General Care Discussion :: New member with questions

[RedEar]

I've just found this board a few days ago and have been lurking around reading stuff, which has brought up a couple questions or just needing some advice.

We found a RES in the breeze way of our apartments 6 or so months ago and figured we would take it in and give it a good home. Not sure how old he was at the time, but he was very tiny....maybe about an inch or so long, and now he is closer to 3-4 inches long. Since we were new to turtles, we didn't know what to expect or to get for him right away, so we got a cheap 10 gallon aquarium with pump and light hood....which now I know was a waste of money, cause the light hood doesn't provide enough light or heat. We recently upgraded to a 20 gallon tank and I upgraded the pump a couple months ago, but the put doesn't seem to be able to handle the mess a turtle puts out. He also has a Zoo-Med turtle dock, but that has got to go too, cause he has started eating it just recently and I can't get him to stop.

I need advice, names of products, or links on things to upgrade to:
-a good water filter/pump
-a good lighting setup
-a good dock/platform that he can't eat
-a good water heater

With tax refund coming soon, I'm wanting to upgrade everything (except the tank, since it's brand new).

I thought I was doing good with him till I found this site and started reading. So far I have managed to over feed him and get him hooked on shrimp. I have cut all the shrimp out for now and just been giving him pellets, which he has been refusing to eat the pellets, but he'll get hungry enough sometime. Going to the store this weekend to get some cuddle bone and some veggies.

[steve]

Hi, welcome to the site. I would look into cheaper upgrades for now. Lets see.. Ebo Jager heater, Kordon basking platform and regular lamp domes to hold fixtures. For filters... there are lots of choices here, I would think a small canister or a hang-on-back filter will do.

[RedEar]

This is my current filter:
http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-ReptoFilter ... 060&sr=8-2

Even when it was in the 10 gallon aquarium it couldn't keep the water filtered. I've seen people recommend Fluval canister and have seen someone suggest a Cascade canister filter....I've looked at them and I don't have a problem spending $100 or so on a good filter, it's just so many choices and options and fillers....it's a bit overwhelming and confusing at the same time.

This is my current water heater:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=4282556

It says it's full submersible, but with the knob so easy to turn I don't want to put it on the bottom of the tank, cause then the turtle could knock it around and change it. I had bought it cause it had the knob to adjust the temperature.

As far as lighting goes, what is the ideal wattage bulbs to get? Currently running 2 25 watt bulbs, one is just regular lighting and the other is a UVA sunlight bulb.

[steve]

The lower end AquaClear filters are pretty cheap. Most name brand canisters are fine, but are not very cheap. I'd rather look into a 40 gallon breeder or a standard 55 gallon tank (which costs $1 per gallon when on sale) then spend $100 on a filter for a 20 gallon.

For UVA/UVB, you can use the Repti Glo 5.0 Compact Tropical Terrarium Lamp. A regular incandescent will work as a basking lamp.

[RedEar]

For the Kordon basking platform, would you recommend the small, medium, or large for 3-4 inch RES?

[steve]

I have not used it before, but I would think the medium one is a start. Alternatively, cork bark makes a great basking area too.

[RedEar]

Cork bark would be really nice and more appealing to look at, but I'm just worried that he would just start eating it too.

[steve]

He might nibble it, but it's natural. My turtle eventually started chewing (not eating) his first cork basking area, but has let his new one alone.