Turtles?

[XoVictoryXi]

Hi Can someone direct me to where an active message board for turtles? here? or anywhere else? I would like chat and get some advice on the best care for my 2 red eared slider turtles.

 

[katie_]

I can help you. I run turtle rescue

 

[XoVictoryXi]

Is there a water conditioner you can recommend me that works the best for turtles and keeping their shells clean? I am using one that is for fish tanks, Im sure there is something better for them.
I have a swamp lamp and I turn that on for half of the day, they do enjoy laying out on their floating place and soak in the sun, it is so cute. They hide when the light is off.
I do not handle them other then taking them out when cleaning their tank. They really DONT like being handled, although in the future I hope they come around, but I am scared of the salmonella and will probably never handle them much. I have a toddler and I keep them WAY out of her reach for this same fear.
I break up a bit of calcium and put in the water - they dont seem interested in it however.
I am feeding them turtle sticks, dried krill, romaine lettuce. I know they can eat insects but am i supposed to just throw a live insect in the water they will immediately die? I usually have mealworms, crix, phoenix worms, waxworms on hand, are these safe to feed to my lil guys?

Thanks for taking the time to help me out!

 

[katie_]

Any aquarium conditioner will do, they all do the same thing. Some have aloe added, which you don't need but it won't hurt.
As long as you are doing your once a week water changes, have proper filtration and a big enough tank - your turtles should stay nice and clean. Sometimes if their lights are left on for more than 8-12 hours a day, algae can grow on their shells (not harmful, just unsightly).

Whats a swamp light? They require a full spectrum UVB lamp, plus a heat lamp. Temps under their basking area should be between 88-92 degress, with their water being around 76 degrees (you can use an aquarium heater to maintain the water temp).

Some really don't like being handled. Be careful of bites! Our turtles see people EVERYDAY and are no longer shy about basking in front of people. If yours are young, give them time. They will soon realize you are not a threat. It is a good idea to keep your small child away. Make sure the area around the tank and anything you touch after handling the turtles or their water is cleaned. Salmonella isnt fun, and nothing young children should be exposed to.

Turtle sticks are a good staple diet, and krill is a nice treat. I would avoid any type of lettuce, as they are all high in water and low in nutrience. Good leafy greens would include kale, dandilion greens, endive, bok choy etc. They also enjoy squash, carrots, etc. You can find detailed lists on the internet. Avoid fruit - too much sugar. Fish fillets and shrimp at the grocery store are a nice treat. Never feed feeder fish - they are full of parasites.
Our turtles will eat crickets, super worms, hornworms...anything.

 

[XoVictoryXi]

thanks so much for your help! I am wondering if I can find a lid for the rubbermaid tank setup that still allows me to see them and allows the light to come thru but prevents anyone from touching them.
Im sorry about saying a swamp lamp, lol that probably makes no sense. I use this lamp here.

The temps in my tank are great right now. but thats because my house is currently an oven in this summer heat lol

 

[katie_]

What kind of tank are they in? Do you know the dimentions?
Do they have a seperate light with UVB, I don't think that swamp bulb emits it.

 

[XoVictoryXi]

Its one of these 19 gallons.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=17164522&findingMethod=rr

Do you know the brand name and the wattage of the UVB Lamp to use for them? I get to the pet store and get overwhelmed with the amount of different lamps there that they sell.
I am so new with turtles.

 

[XoVictoryXi]

you are SO awesome by the way

 

[katie_]

Are they just tiny babies? This container will probably only due for a month or two if they are small.
You will want to upgrade their "tank" shortly to something larger. Full grown sliders need at least 4' by 2' swimming room (like a 75 gallon). I would look into purchasing a 180 gallon (6' x 2' x 2') if you have two. Keeping them in too small a container can stunt their growth, deform them, and make them very sick. You will want to look for a tank with a large 'footprint' as height is less important.

Also, what type of filter are you using? I would recommend a canister filter (eheim's are my favourite.) Turtles require a lot of filtration, they are dirty little creatures. This will keep them healthy, and you will be less likely to contract diseases from them.

UV bulbs can come in a fluorescent tubes, or a coil. I would choose the tubes if it were me. They come in several different wattages and brands - its hard for me to choose just one as your pet store may not have the ones I say. I'm hopeful someone at your local petstore can point you in the right direction (just be careful, some staff are useless).

 

[XoVictoryXi]

Thank you so much, I am writing this all down. Very informative! I want them to get as big as they possibly can and live a long healthy life!
Yes they are tiny babies.they are only a little bigger then a quarter.
They look tiny in the 19 gallon right now. But I will def upgrade as they grow. And I plan to get them separate tanks as I heard they can harm each other when they get bigger.
Thanks for the recc on the filter and uv bulbs, I will place an order for one now!
what do you think about the glass tank harming their shells? is that just a myth? That kind of scared me!
I was one of those people that was approached on the streets from a seller who had the 2 turtles in one tiny tank on sale for $10. He gave that bad advice "if you keep them in a small tank they will stay small and you dont have to worry about a big tank" No thank you, I know better! I adore these little guys they are amazing! I want to be able to one day walk them outside on a leash!! lol

 

[Dimidiata]

My recccomendation is a small or large pond. It may sound like work but a 200gal pond is rather small, and can be very nice.

 

[katie_]

A indoor pond is also a good idea. Outdoor ponds are only recommended if you can make 100% they cannot escape, and other animals cannot get in (racoons love tasty turtles).
I have ever heard of glass aquariums harming their shells. As long as the tank is large enough, it would do no damage.

And the largest misconception of all time is that animals only grow to the size of their environment. Who ever started this myth is horrible lol.

 

[marauderhex]

I have come to the rescue, or maybe just make an ass out of myself. Check out the Waterland tubs. The Large Water Enclosure has the following specs listed:
Dimensions - 100"L x 50"W x 32"H
Water Depth: 16"
Volume: 200 Gallons
3/4 Water, 1/4 Land
Weight: 120+ lbs.

Sounds perfect for a RES enclosure.

Here's a link: http://www.waterlandtubs.com/Products.html

 

[marauderhex]

To follow up, we use a medium land one for our baby leopard tortoise and she loves it. She can bathe herself (which she always clogs the filter we have from defecating in the water), and then climb out and go to her basking spot to dry off and charge up for the day.

 

[katie_]

Looks great!
Place an eheim at the end and rig up some lighting and you'd be set.
Get the big one!

 

[marauderhex]

Yeah, we have a Solar Glo hanging over ours for Herbert. Great heat/UV output in 1 mercury bulb.

 

[XoVictoryXi]

awesome thanks for the recc on the tank!

 

[XoVictoryXi]

Here is their pic! Such cute little babies

I wish I knew if they are boys or girls, temporarily their names are splinter and shredder lol

 

[metal-otaku]

if you want a nice place to talk with other aquatic turtle owners http://www.redearslider.com/forum/index.php?welcome

and your turtles look very cute.

 

[katie_]

They look to young to tell at this point.