Habitat - Indoor :: new turtle owner to be! help on tank please

[frog]

i am new to turtles and am getting one from my dads friend who cant keep it. it is a baby, and it lives in a box with him, with me it will have a 20 gallon tank for now. first off, how high does the water need to be? and do i need a filter for this temporary one? i would like one that isnt too expensive, and easy to work, if possible. what would a basic (minimum requirement) setup look like?

thank you!

Sara

[SpotsMama]

here's a good link on getting started:

http://www.redearslider.com/startup.html

On the water, if the little turtle isn't used to swimming, put an inch or two in the tank and then gradually, day by day, raise it so that the turtle will get used to it and won't be scared. You can eventually fill the tank most of the way up....BUT not so high that the turtle can stand on something (basking platform, heater, filter, etc) and hook his front paws over the edge of the tank and escape. They are very athletic and always looking for a way to escape.

On a filter, as long as the turtle is very small on a temporary basis you can maintain the water quality just by changing the water frequently. BUT... by frequently, I mean complete changes once or twice a week. Or even more depending on the turtle. As the turtle grows, it will get harder and harder to keep the water clean and pretty soon you'll be desperate for a bigger tank and good filter. A good quality filter becomes a practical necessity because it's too much work without one.

[packfan1]

I agree with Spotsmama as she is very wise when it comes to turtles. She has given me some advice here and there with my questions as a fairly new owner myself. Some things I didn't see was basking, heating, lighting and so on. Your tank size now would be ok, but if you plan on keeping the turtle for a long time, it will out grow the 20 gallon tank. You might need to start saving and planning if you intend on keeping him/her.
If you are smart, you can ask advice on where and what to get from those that have been through this process, like myself about a month ago, and you will get sound and solid advice from many a wise turtle owner.
This site is awesome!
Good luck and please do your research on being a turtle owner.

[ilcapo21]

A tip for every new turtle owner, By the biggest of everything you can afford right away. I started with a ten gallon tank, ive had my turtles for a years, ive already changed tanks three times and bought a few filters, and heaters. Save some money up, and buy the biggest tank you can afford, find a filter and a heater that is adequate for the size, and start there, what you have now is ok like spotsmamma said, but trust a fellow turtle owner, buy big right off the bat you will save money in the long run.

[frog]

A tip for every new turtle owner, By the biggest of everything you can afford right away. I started with a ten gallon tank, ive had my turtles for a years, ive already changed tanks three times and bought a few filters, and heaters. Save some money up, and buy the biggest tank you can afford, find a filter and a heater that is adequate for the size, and start there, what you have now is ok like spotsmamma said, but trust a fellow turtle owner, buy big right off the bat you will save money in the long run.

that is what i usually do. i have owned different reptiles and amphibians for 4 years, (being 13, not that long to have experience, but 4 years isnt that bad)
and have learned that is the best way in my book. allowance takes a while to save up, and trust me, i know that fewer upgrades the better, and that is what i plan to do in this case as well.


now, on to what i should make this tank look like. being temporary, simple, right? and low water at first, i can change it once or twice a week, yes yes. now, for changing it, just remove it all and put new water in? do i have to purify the water, i dont use tap water, my dad has a well and the water is much cleaner than in a tap.

what about warmth, should i just put a light bulb in for now? i have a spare heat bulb, but it gets my bearded dragons cage around 100 (when i used it, i dont right now.) or should i use just a regular light bulb?

thank you and sorry for all the questions. anybody who knows me knows in the case of a new reptile i ask a ton of questions.

Sara

[ilcapo21]

Sara, you can fill your tank up as much as possible without giving the turtle a way to escape, make sure the water is not high enough for them to get their arms on the top on the tank, then can climb like you wouldnt believe, water temp should be about 78-80 degrees F. If the light bulb heats the water that should be good, usually bulbs alone dont do the trick you might need a heater, and when you do a water change, i believe it should be about 20% of the water i could be wrong though, try and net out waste and extra food. that should be adequate.

[frog]

ok, got it. i will go get a net and other things when my dad takes me.



on water, will water from a well (instead of a tap, well is cleaner, what my dad has) be clean enough or do i need to put conditioner in? i have a small bottle of conditioner but i use it for smaller things. should i get a big bottle and how many drops per gallon, or what ever you would measure with?

[steve]

Usually tap water is fine, a conditioner mainly removed chlorine (which itself will evaporate after 24hrs). I wouldn't bother with it unless you also keep fish, use bio media in your filter or your RES is sensitive to chlorine.

[frog]

ok, thank you

on saturday im going to go get some supplies (basic stuff) for my turtle.

so far i am going to get

food
net


anything else? i am not sure on decorations, i may get some, depends on what all im going to get. im trying to make this trip 50 dollars or less, just basic stuff, that way i still have money left over to save up.

i have plastic plants,can i put one of those on there? will he like it? and i have this fake rock thing that could be a thing so he can get out of water while he is still small. should i use it?

thank you for answering my questions. i understand i am asking a lot, but thats what i do.

Sara

[steve]

Not sure what you already have, how big is your tank? Fake plants are good, do you have thermometers?

[frog]

i have a 20 gallon long tank, and the baby sounds to be small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, (i'd say around 2 inches)

i do not have a thermometer, i will get one of those. thank you for that.

[SpotsMama]

What heater. Must have a water heater. Keep the water temp at 75 to 78 degrees.

Do you have lights? You'll need a good UVB bulb and an incandescent bulb for heat. Both bulbs will require light fixtures.

Do you have a basking platform? The turt will have to be able to get up and bask in a dry place every day.

Cuttlebone - you can get one for about $1.

[frog]

ok, i will get a heater, which one will be good for a 20 gallon tank or a slightly bigger one? ca you set a temp on them or do you just need a certain type/wattage?

for the lights (like i do for my bearded dragon which i use mercury vapor bulbs for as well) i order them offline, much cheaper. i will do that

will the zoo med basking log be fine for now? if they are at the pet store i will get that for now

i will get cuttle bone.

what about a filter? or can i just do water changes for now? and get a net to remove excess food/waste?

i will go make a list right now so i dont forget. but i need to know what heater to get SOON before my dad comes and takes me to the pet store.

can i use an under tank heater for the water temps? maybe temporarily if i have to? i have an extra that i can put under the tank (not in it) to heat it up for now.

i will get a thermometer

did i miss anything?


oh, what brands do you recommend? like, what heater, what thermometer, (several different ones would be better so i have a batter chance of getting them)

[frog]

im at my dads house and unfortunately the tank is smaller, id say 15 gallons, because its smaller than my 20 gallon but bigger than my 10 gallon.

the good news is he can have a bigger tank.
he doesnt have a good setup (the one he had i mean). he lives on some gravel which he wont have with me, gross water which was cold and no light.

i removed about 75 % of the water (all i could get by hand pouring it into a bowl by tilting it, all i could do) and replaced it with clean water, and i poured in warm water to warm him up a bit, and gave him a makeshift basking spot, with a heat bulb above it, so he could be warm for now.

i cant move him into the 20 gallon till tomorrow because i had to silicone a plug thing in the middle (probably for outlets or something) so it wouldnt leak. i will also go to the pet store tomorrow and get a heater, basking spot, better food (his food is ok, but its not reptomin, its wardley, and hes almost out anyways) and other supplies.

he is stressed out right now, but its better than him not having cleaner water and a light.
i think its a male because his claws are fairly long, (his front ones).
he is about id say 4-5 inches long.
his shell is pretty hard, but a bit soft, maybe he is going to shed?

sorry for the long post, im done now

Sara