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Ok, so I'm going to be getting one RES baby within the next couple weeks, and plan on buying a 90 gallon tank. I'm hoping I get a boy, so this can be his lifelong tank (unless something were to happen to the tank obviously). Anyway, my questions are:

-Is this tank size too big for a hatchling? Again, I'd rather just spend the money now, but if it's too big, I can always start out with a 40 gallon and then upgrade later.
-How deep should the water be for such a small turtle in a big tank?
-Do I need to worry about such a small turtle being sucked into a big filter for a 90 gallon tank?
-Should I get "little" accessories for the tank (basking platform, etc.), or would he/she be fine with accessories made for adults? I just don't want this huge tank with a really small platform, etc.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

You can fill it full as long as you put in driftwood or a platform so your hatchling can rest in shallow water. Hatchlings can get into small spaces, and they don't always realize they've grown and won't fit a week or two later. Make sure there's no are it can get trapped.

The intake filter flow may be too strong. I'm sure others can suggest alterations to make it safer. You can also turn the flow rate down a bit. A hatchling won't be producing the waste of an adult, so that will be fine.

A warning. You can't sex a hatchling. If you are buying from a breeder that temperature controlled the eggs you can have a good chance of getting the sex you want.

ljapa wrote:You can fill it full as long as you put in driftwood or a platform so your hatchling can rest in shallow water. Hatchlings can get into small spaces, and they don't always realize they've grown and won't fit a week or two later. Make sure there's no are it can get trapped.

The intake filter flow may be too strong. I'm sure others can suggest alterations to make it safer. You can also turn the flow rate down a bit. A hatchling won't be producing the waste of an adult, so that will be fine.

A warning. You can't sex a hatchling. If you are buying from a breeder that temperature controlled the eggs you can have a good chance of getting the sex you want.

Thanks for your input! Do you know of a breeder that temperature controls the eggs by chance? Besides turtlesale [not reputable]?

RES hatchlings are just churned out on a large scale, I don't know if anyone bothers to temp. sex them. I'll go on a limb and say 90 gallons is large enough for a single male or female RES. It might be a little tight for a female RES, but most don't reach that 12" mark.

steve wrote:RES hatchlings are just churned out on a large scale, I don't know if anyone bothers to temp. sex them. I'll go on a limb and say 90 gallons is large enough for a single male or female RES. It might be a little tight for a female RES, but most don't reach that 12" mark.

Thanks! Do you think 90 gallons is too much for a baby though?

ljapa covered it.

You can gradually raise water levels if you want go that route.

Its so nice to see someone with the proper tank size before getting into turtles. Please share some pics of your new turt!