Do I need a bigger tank for my Red Ear Sliders?

Question

I have two in two tanks. One is "large flat" the other is "large tall".
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9780
I'd like to get them into the same tank, with a filter and more than 2-3" of water. These turtles are about 5" and I know they will grow much larger. I'm thinking at least a 30 breeder that is 36x18x12. Is this enough?

Answer 1

The rule of thumb for Red-ears and other pond turtles is about 10 gallons of water per inch of turtle shell length. A 5" turtle by itself should be in 50 gallons of water- or about a 75 gallon tank. to put your two 5" turtles together would be best in about 100 gallons of water, a very large plastic tub, a kiddie pond, etc.

It should not come as a shock that a species that in the wild likes a LOT of space needs big spaces in captivity. While many people, even some zoos, violate this guideline with minimal bad results, there are good reasons for the bigger tanks.

Big tanks help minimize things like stress and stress-related concerns, aggression, excessive shedding, water fouling, disease transmission, and so on.

Sadly, Red-ears get big. Many experts suggest that adult Red-ears should only be kept in very large outdoor ponds.

Yo can learn more about these guys at http://www.redearslider.com



Oh, and the bit about shallow water being good or safer- that is an old wives tale retailers made up a few decades ago to sell those stupid turtle-killing plastic bowls. What logic is there that an aquatic turtle cannot swim if given the chance and a good basking site to rest on?

Answer 2

Here is a list of common glass aquarium sizes.
Note: Volume and dimensions are estimates based on manufacturer information. Try to personally check this information before purchasing any kind of tank.
Gallons L x W x H (inches) Liters L x W x H (cm)
20 long 30 x 12 x 12 76 long 76 x 30 x 30
29 30 x 12 x 18 110 76 x 30 x 46
30 long 36 x 12 x 17 114 long 92 x 31 x 43
30 breeder 36 x 18 x12 114 breeder 93 x 46 x 30
40 48 x 13 x 16 152 122 x 33 x 41
40 long 36 x 18 x 13 152 long 93 x 46 X 33
40 breeder 36 x 18 x 16 152 breeder 93 x 46 x 41
50 36 x 18 x 18 190 93 x 46 x46
50 long 48 x 18 x 13 190 long 122 x 46 x 33
75 48 x 18 x 20 285 122 x 46 x 51
90 48 x 18 x 24 342 122 x 46 x 61
100 60 x 18 x 20 380 153 x 46 x 51
135 72 x 18 x 24 513 182 x 46 x 61

Answer 3

For babies you should be fine, but for a full grown slider you need a pond, they can be 10" across, so maybe plan for that rather than just the immediate future.

Answer 4

Yes, it is enough, but to make them more happier you should get a pond in your yard. put a dozen of guppies in the pond and the turtles will eat them. dont worry, all you need is a pond

Answer 5

very wise a 5" turtle can drown in 2" water if it finds itself upside down it ideally needs 6" water mine like standing in the water at 45 degrees on there back legs with there snout out my 15yr old female is 9.5"long my male is 7" they were in a 36x18x18 for about 12yrs so i would say the tank you propose is fine but bigger is always better ;-).

Answer 6

u need a bigger tank if u want a filtr and everything else like that

Answer 7

get a ten to 20 gallon tank !!!!!