My brother bought me a little green turtle. I bought one of those little plastic things (with the palm tree) and it's too small for the turtle, and he wants to swim lol. I am going to by a 10 gallon tank. Heres what I plan to put in it:
A Placasumus (SP)
A Lilypad or two
Gravel at the bottom
Plants to put at the bottom
maybe some driftwood
is there anything else I should put in there or take out to make him happy?
Alison M.
Slidell
2007-07-01 14:16:06 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I hate to tell you this but you're going to need a MUCH bigger tank. Little green turtle grow up to be BIG (8-12 inches long) and will eventually need at least a 55 gallon tank for 1 turtle.
A twenty gallon long might work for a few months but you're also going to need a good filter which will cost around $100.
People assume that since they are little turtles don't need space. The problem is turtles are really messy and their water gets dirty fast. Without a good size tank and filter for it you need to clean the tank every day.
Also, No gravel smaller than your turtles head...they can choke on it. Any plants that you add to the tank will probably be eaten right away. Same for fish.
You need something for your turtle to climb on so that it can get dry itself completely and warm up under a heat lamp.
You'll also need a heater for the tank and a UBV light. The UBV is expensive but VERY important to your turtles health. There's a lot more that I haven't covered but I'm sure that if you google Red Ear Slider care you'll find out the rest.
I hope that everything works out well for you and your turtle.
2007-07-01 14:55:53 · answer #1 · answered by Eva 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to do research. Red-eared sliders get huge, as do goldfish. Either way you go- you're going to need a much larger tank than a 10 gallon. NO pet store will sell you a gold-fish or turtle if they know it's going in a 10 gallon.
2016-05-20 23:10:35 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am glad you are trying to set things up better!
For a happy small turtle, try...
- a 20 gallon long tank, about 1/2-2/4 full
- a good filter (see http://www.austinsturtlepage.com for ideas)
- a good basking site, solid and safe, but also heated to about 90F
- If you use gravel on the bottom, make it natural looking stuff- but understand that food and wastes get trapped in it and cause smells.
- fish and plants are nice.
- a way to warm the water to 75-80F all day.
- nice lighting, ideally with UVB bulb as well
I hate to mention it, but a good turtle habitat can run in some money- but once you get it set up, it should run well for a long time.
2007-07-01 15:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Eva--turtles need a lot of specialized care and food or they'll be dead in a few months. 10 gallon tank for every 1 inch of shell, basking spot with heat lamp, UVB lighting, a variety of insect, fish, and plant food besides canned turtle food. NO GRAVEL--they eat it and get fatal impactions. A very powerful water filter, and lots of water cleaning to keep the smell down are just a few basics. Also check out www.austinsturtlepage.com for great care info. and much more detail.
2007-07-01 15:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by KimbeeJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FYI, it's illegal to sell baby sliders in all states. Please ask your brother to report the seller to the local health department or regional FDA office.
There are lots of experienced turtle keepers at www.turtleforum.com if you'd like to chat more about your turtle.
Like everyone said, your turtle will eventually need a 55 or 75 gallon aquarium. A ten gallon will last you a few months, so if you can afford a larger tank now, get a larger one. Oh, and I'd avoid fish - eventually the turtle will get big enough to eat the fish, and will also eat the aquatic plants. I use artificial silk plants for hiding spots.
2007-07-01 16:55:00 · answer #5 · answered by beautifuljoe1313 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How big is your turtle and what kind is he? Why not a 5 gallon tank? that is what I have and had 4 snappers living in there but one got too big and we let him go, now down to 3 but one of ours if not feeling well, he got stuck inbetween a rock and the heater in the tank and was upside down for a long time. Now he is lifeless, stopped eating and just barely lifts his head to wink at me.
2007-07-01 18:25:34 · answer #6 · answered by Cottam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they will eat the live plants, they need a basketing platfom and a sun light. they love feeder fish n krull to eat. but need turtle sticks they got the calum for strong sheal. tank MUST HAVE A FILTER FOR TWICE SIZE THE TANK VERRY DIRTY. i know i got 2 in a 75 galloon tank if you can take then out in a small tank n let them get sun. must have dun to help them diegest food.dont fill tank to top with water they can get out. love my turles i just a baby to go with my 2 big ones but get a dook at pet store on the kind u got is the best help for u
2007-07-01 15:43:25 · answer #7 · answered by kingkong9274 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my turtle has light source the things you mentioned a cuddle bone and a basking area. she seems very happy in there but it is a 50 gallon tank. Hope it gets happier
2007-07-01 16:19:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
in reality you need:
20 gallong "long" tank
a good power filter(look at AquaClear, rated for a 40 gallon tank)
a basking platform, UVB light and heat over it. Water heater set to 78(terrafauna makes one, its' green-petco has them)
variety of food.
they get up to 12", you'll have to eventually have a 200 gallon tank or a pond.
2007-07-01 17:02:04 · answer #9 · answered by Buslady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont forget they need light since their cold blooded animals
2007-07-01 14:47:55 · answer #10 · answered by *~*~tubane~*~* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋