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I'm about to get some baby RES (they are xmas presents from my bf) and I've been doing research. I've read a lot of stuff about what I need for the turtles. I've read that you can put them in a plastic container and set that up for their tank. Right now, with my lack of money, this would be the best option for me, only until I can afford a real tank, or until my 8year old fish dies (not that I want him to die). I'd also like to see pictures of how people have their tank set up. I'm a very visual person! I've seen some from topics I've read, though more pictures would be great!

Sorry if there has already been a topic on this.

Thank you!

The photo gallery would be a great place to start.

After having the basics, filter, UVB?UVA, basking area... you could get a pvc pipe to swim through/hide in. Flower pots are also good hiding spots. Fake plants or real ones are good ideas. Feeder fish can be fun, if you don't mind when they get eaten. There are pictures of my set up in the photo gallery, just search for my name.

The most important thing is to make sure you have the proper size tank. If you have read through the forum at all, you notice that we suggest only getting one turtle because they are not social creatures. You could end up with 2 separate enclosures. The tank size should be 10 gallons per inch of shell.. but the larger the better because then you won't have to upgrade for a LONG time. With 2 turtles.. a 75 gallon tank may last you a year or 2. With one turtle.. it would last you years Also, the filter you get needs to be rated for at least 3x the size of the tank. Although I personally go for a filter that has high gph.. like the Aquaclear filters. You need a good water heater, UVB light.. (reptisun are good) .. a basking dock and as missi mentioned, some decorations You do could get some river rocks for the bottom, but don't use the gravel you'd use for a fish tank as those can be easily ingested.

I do suggest if Money is an issue that you wait until it's not. If you get turtles and don't keep them properly, they more than likely will not survive. There is a high mortality rate with hatchlings as it is, let alone without the proper habitat.


Welcome to the forum and It's nice to see someone checking on what they need before they get their turtles instead of panicking after

cam722 wrote:I do suggest if Money is an issue that you wait until it's not. If you get turtles and don't keep them properly, they more than likely will not survive. There is a high mortality rate with hatchlings as it is, let alone without the proper habitat.

Well put!

The other rule of thumb is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Nowhere is that more applicable than for turtle owners. Even though these little shell-kids seem hearty & tough with that shell, they are actually fairly delicate & will require special care.

Having said that, you can avoid costly trips to the vet by making sure their habitat is comfortable & clean!

I got a GIANT rock for their basking area in the canal behind my house. I'm washing it very thoroughly. Do I need to do anything else to it?

I think the best way to insure it has nothing harmful on it is to boil it. You also need to check to make sure there aren't any sharp or rough edges on it, which can cause damage to the carapace or plastron.

Thanx!! I did check out the gallery before I posted anything, lol, I didn't pay any attention to the tanks, I just look at how cute the turtles were!!

Haha, they all have such cute personalities! You may want to consider buying a floating dock instead of using a rock. The floating docks allow the turtle to have more swimming room because they don't take up any water space, something all aquatic turtles appreciate!

The large rock may look nice, and if you have enough room then it's okay to have it. Meg made a good point, the least amount of room you take up, the happier your turtles will be. Also consider that natural rocks build up algae very easily, especailly if they're coarse. (from my experiences)

The GIANT rock is just for now. I talked my bf into letting me keep all twelve he bought until he finds homes for them (why he got twelve, im not sure). They really like the rock, it's big enough if all twelve want to bask. My dad said he has a tank I can use that's in storage so when he has some time off work he'll get it for me. I think they have plenty of room to swim and it's only temporary. They got a light and some heat. Everytime i want in the room they scatter, so I have to crawl into the room so i dont scare them! I really just wanna squeeze them!

I have decided to name my own two turtles, Dezzie and Uzuri. Dezzie (or Desi) meaning Desired, and Uzuri meaning beautiful!