Do baby red eared slider turtles live healthy in a plastic container?

Question

or i must bring them an filtered aquqrium, and do they survive on the "turtle sticks" or they must be fed other things???

Answer 1

The diet should be 25% commercial (the turtle sticks) 25% meat (crickets, worms, fish etc.) 50% vegetation (spinach leaves, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens etc. Although a baby will most likely not eat greens until they are at least 4 inches, it is a good idea to try and see if he likes it. They can't survive on turtle sticks alone.
No they cant live in a plastic container. Even if it is large enough. Most plastics will contain bacteria and will get your turtle sick. Glass and plexi-glass isn't as bacteria friendly. Get an aquarium and a filter is a nice touch. Be aware they grow up fast so don't just assume a ten gallon tank will be fine fo rnow. Here is a good care sheet that I recommend to all RES owners

http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/1466.html


Good luck with your baby turtle

Answer 2

Though it sounds like you are, overall, taking good care of your turtle, you should let him grow as nature intended for him to do. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I would have to assume that even though he isn't growing on the outside he may still be growing on the inside and if that is the case then his internal organs will outgrow his little body and cause complications. If you want to keep it cheap and don't want to buy a 50 gallon tank then you should consider a big rubbermaid tote or a kiddie swimming pool for him to be able to move around more. At this age it may be too late to correct the problem anyways, but I'd say it's better to try. If it is a boy he will only get to around 10 inches, while females get to around 12. Even if he doesn't grow anymore I'm sure he'll appreciate a larger living space just so that he doesn't feel cramped up in his little drawer. Animals like to roam and have room to explore. Overall though it sounds like you are doing a great job with your turtle, but stunting an animals growth is never fair. What if your parents had bound your feet (like the chinese did) so they didn't have to buy you bigger shoes, or gave you chemicals to keep you little so they didn't have to buy you a bigger bed. Things grow in nature. Don't mess with Mother Nature.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. How many wee beasts have you seen live happy in a tiny kritter keeper? None.
get yourself set up witha 20g long tank, screen top, a filter, a UVB and heat light, and a basking platform. They do grow to large sizes, 12" for a female...think about what you got!

Answer 4

You need a 55 gallon tank for just one a 75 gallon for 2.
They need a basking lamp and a UVA lamp, they need a heater to keep the water warm.
They need a place to get up on to bask and get out of the water.
they need more than just the sticks like worms, small fish, etc.
To set up a tank figure the price of the tank and another about $300 to get everything set up correctly.

Answer 5

Well think about this, how many things do you know that would live healthy in a plastic container.

Answer 6

Here is a great article on raising baby water turtles right: http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/newhatchling.htm

Answer 7

Check out www.austinsturtlepage.com for great RES info. :)