3 Red Eared Sliders 1 Tank?

Question

I have three red eared sliders in a 125 gallon tank set up with 3 fluval 403 canister filters and I change the water aevery three days. But I have been noticing that my turtles are getting a slime coat on there shells. What can be causing this slime coat even though I take very good care of the tank and I make sure I change the water every couple of days.

The Fluval 403's are rated for 250 gallons per hour

Answer 1

You might want to change the water every day or every other day, but they might still get a slime/algae coat. You can gently scrub the shell to prevent buildup, as well as any rocks or objects in the tank - just don't use chemicals. I work at a zoo, and this is how we usually handle it.

Answer 2

Slime is not bad in and of itself. Use these guidelines to help determine if the slime is OK:
- No turtle tank smell.
- Slime wipes off easily.
- Slime is greenish (algae).

Green algae growth is common in warm, wet, well-lit conditions. A thin layer of algae is not a big deal. If it bothers you, clean and disinfect everything, sun dry everything, and reassemble. Clean and dry off the turtles (I use a mild salt scrub), and 'dry tank' them for a few hours. You can also think about boosting the UV lighting- but keep it safe!

Clear or whitish, easily wiped slime is not usually a problem either, but any slime that is not easily wiped off and not green should be looked at more closely.

If the stuff is anchored to the shells, it may be one of the forms of shell rot.

Answer 3

That slime u're talking about is due to sunshine and dampness.. when ur turtles are basking in the sunlight, their carapace may be still wet as they may just have emerged from the water.. The combination of the sunlight which warms up the dampness of their carapace gives rise to the formation of unicellular micro-organisms called algae or moss (not "slime" ;P).. Just know that the moss on their shells won't harm them when they are not too overloading, but u better wear it off if possible, don't worry about the slime, harmless fact..

Hope it helps ;D