I have 3 baby red ear slider turtles and i need some help please!!?

Question

I have 3 baby red ear slider turtles. I have about a 10 to 11 gallon tank but only about 1/4 or a little more if filled up. My turtles are about an inch across on the shell. Should i get a bigger tank? Only half of the tank has water on it and the other a waterfall with rocks. Also... should i make the water level higher? Thanks for answering!!

Answer 1

yes, they will need a much bigger tank. they say 10 gallons per inch of turtle is good. these guys won't stay little, it is best to start with a big one right off the bat so you dont have to keep changing and buying more tanks. for three i would think at least 100 gallons. you do need more water in the tank, these guys love to swim. it should be deep enough so they could stand on their hind feet and put their heads out of the water. you will need a basking area they can climb up onto if dont have one, and the proper lighting over the basking area so they can dry out and process the calcium they need in their diets to keep them healthy. for good info on all you need check out austinsturtlepage.com. glass tanks can be really expensive...an alternative is to buy a large rubbermaid type container...much cheaper and you can lots of times find clearish type ones so you can still see your babies through the sides somewhat.

Answer 2

I would get a 30 or 40 gallon tank. I would fill the tank up to about 1/2 or 3/4 full, the turtles would really like that better. Red-eared sliders are very good swimmers. Everything else sounds good. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

They take an awful lot of work and need very special care. Please see

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

for complete care info. Basics are a 10 gallon sized tank for each 1 inch of shell length, a basking area to climb out of the water on, a basking lamp, thermometer to monitor basking temp (digital thermometer a must), a water heater, a water thermometer, a powerful water filter, a UVB bulb which must be within 12 inches of the basking area and changed every 6 months, and change the water very very very often. Feed a variety of foods in a separate tank to help keep things clean. Do not use plants or gravel in the tank. Gravel will cause fatal impactions

Answer 4

FIRST OF ALL! Your tank is way too small for 3 red eared sliders. Even if they are small. Rule of thumb is 10 gallons per inch and have the water twice as deep as the shell is long. So, you need a bigger tank!!!!! And since you keep asking questions about your damn turtles! MY suggestion is to set them free! You obviously haven't done your research and they would be much happier and healthier.

Answer 5

The rule of thumb is 10 gallons for every inch of shell. You have three, so you would multiply that by 3. You also want to give your sliders plenty of water to swim in. They are aquatic. They need a basking platform and uva/b lighting. On our Turtle website, we have many informed members who can give you a LOT more information and we are working on a caresheet section to help guide new turtle owners. Stop by and see us sometime:

http://www.turtleexchange.com/forum

Answer 6

yes u should get a much bigger tank turtles need a lot of room u should make the water higher.

Answer 7

yes they need a bigger tank or else they will die and never grow! for each 1 inch turtle add about 20 gallons i would say. or just to get the biggest tank you can find. they will grow pretty big. and make sure u put them in UVA light, or there shells will start to rot and become soft. also put a docking station so they can get out of the water and be dry.

Answer 8

Yes, you need a much larger tank.
But, contrary to what a previous poster said, baby red-ears CAN & WILL drown in deep water- they are weak swimmers!
They survive in the wild by spending the first years of their lives in shallow, weedy areas where they can easily CLIMB to the surface for air.
If you insist on having deep water, at least have rocks and driftwood in the water to aid them as they climb to the surface.

Answer 9

i had my turtle for a year and it grew out of a 20 gallon. it was by itself. yes i would suggest you get a bigger tank and also look for signs of fighting. if there are any i would get seperate tanks. i kept mine about half or a little lower than that. he always did fine!

Answer 10

your turtles most likely are fine, turtles just need one small areato go on land and to absorb UVA rays for vitamin D3; they only need 2-3 gallons enough to move along the wall of the tank and move to get food.