I have a red eared slider and i really need to know everything there is to know about these little creatures. I have had him for 4 or 5 years now and he has been doing just fine, but the other day i went to petsmart and they said i needed all of this stuff (which i dont have). I have a ten gallon tank and a filter but thats it. Please tell me everything i need to know about taking care of my turtle!!!!
2007-03-15 01:58:25 · 7 answers · asked by monkeysoup14 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
To be healthy and happy, a Red-ear slider needs:
SPACE- aim for at least 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length. At 4-5 years old, it should be about 5", so need about a 50 gallon pool, tank, or tub to swim in.
WARMTH- heat the water to about 75-80F, and the basking area to about 90F.
CLEANLINESS- keep the water clean and odorless with a filter about 3 times stronger than a fish tank would need. A 50 gallon tank would need a filter set for about 150 gallons. Even with good filtration, you'll want to vac out about 1/4th of the water every week or so while you clean the bottom.
LIGHTING- turtles love the sun- they like the warmth and the UVB rays. UVB really helps a turtle, but it is rather expensive to provide.
GOOD DIET- at 4 years, it should be getting good pellets, some live food, and some veggies (usually dark, leafy greens).
OTHER- timers, thermometers, tank siphon/vac system, good cleanable docks or ramps, etc. are nice.
Things you DO NOT NEED include:
- conditioning blocks- a good filter cleans the stuff out the of the water, and a good diet provides the turtle what it needs.
- sulfa blocks- using anti-biotics when they are not needed is a bad idea.
- water conditioner- if your water tastes OK, it is OK for a turtle (turtles do not breathe or absorb water, so do not need it as chemical free as fish or frogs do.)
- fancy foods. Treats are nice, but not a big deal.
- special turtle filter- most are not strong enough.
- eye drops- temporary relief only of a condition that needs special attention.
A lot of the stuff at the pet store is cool, but most is not needed and a lot of it is sheer junk.
For the best advice, try http://www.austinsturtlepage.com
2007-03-15 05:49:03 · answer #1 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am going to assume you have a male because a female would have outgrown a ten gallon by now although he really does need a bigger tank. your best bet if you have the room is to fill a baby pool in your backyatd and put some rocks or a log in it so your turtle can sunbathe. turtles need sunlight for their shells to stay healthy and they need to be able to leave the water. just make sure that you set it up in a way that predators can't get to him. make sure that your turtle has access to fresh vegetables as well as feeder fish and turtle pellets so that he has a complete diet. hope this helps
2007-03-15 07:08:06 · answer #2 · answered by fantozzizoo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have the same kind of turtle. and my tank is 20 gals and i have a filter for it also a lamp such as a wall lamp( hangs on the wall) if u dont have a lamp that goes with your tank but, Cecil (my turtle) is doing just fine. well at first his eyes were swollen and he wasnt active as he was when we first got him but i found a medicine Genotocin and that worked. but that was caused to a bacterial infection. aslo feed him little goldfish or minnows and or reptile pellets (in a green can) for a snack or a meal. make sure he can get in and out the water. yesterday i thought Cecil was going to climb out but that only happened because our water level was too high.
newts or salamanders make
a good friend for your turtle.
god luck and i hope this helps.
p.s. please dont think im crazy cause i named my turtle, Cecil!
2007-03-15 02:14:10 · answer #3 · answered by Waiting_For*My_Lil*Jordan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at first a turtle isn't an element. you would be wanting various money for a large tank(min.100gal), a minimum of a large canister clear out, heater and different stuff. turtles at the instant are not low-fee pets.
2016-10-18 10:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
turtles need to sunbathe, they also need a place where they can bask, a turtle must have a dry place and a place to swim. even though they are aquatic turtles they need to have a dry place to stay. A lamp is also needed if they cant get sunlight.
2007-03-15 02:08:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you've got a cute nickname a bit funny if you look at it
2007-03-15 02:08:11 · answer #6 · answered by TP 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
dear i am also facing the same problem.
2007-03-15 02:06:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋