Kylie - 2011-11-27 Ok, so I am getting this kind of turtle for sure! How big should the tank be? How much do I feed hiM? Help, I need him b4 Christmas! HELP!
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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-28 Just scroll up in this Animal World article to the Enviornment section and it tells you what size tank etc. Good luck and enjoy.
Elena - 2011-09-11 I am thinking about getting a turtle. Recently I’ve looked at an African Sideneck, but those grow to be too big to fit in the tank I’ve gotten. Will these be small enough to live their entire lives in a 20-gallon tank?
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Clarice Brough - 2011-09-12 You really need a bigger aquarium for a turtle. You can house juveniles in a smaller tank, but as they grow, you need to provide a bigger home. Even the smaller turtles, like the mud turtles and the musk turtles reach up to about 5" across, so a 55 gallon aquarium would be best for an adult of these species.
Renee - 2011-07-30 I purchased 2 red eared sliders 9 months ago for my son and we became very fond of them. We bought them a 20 gallon tank, equipped with filtration system, proper lighting, basking room, air rock....the works. From the beginning, I noticed that one turtle (Squirt is what we called him) was having a hard time seeing when we fed him. The other (Crush) was able to feed just fine and flourished. Squirt, however, I had to feed by hand because he had a hard time grabbing his worms or nutrition pellets when he couldn't quite see them. But 3 days ago, I noticed that his eyes looked a little bulgy, but he otherwise seemed fine. Then the next two days, he seemed weak, and when I fed him he was struggling to grip his food. I also noticed that his skin seemed to look a little swollen. I started to get worried, and was going to take him to the vet on Monday. However, tonight when I got home, I noticed that his body was completely swollen and his eyes looked like they were going to pop, and he was floating. I couldn't tell if he was alive or not until I took him out to observe and his neck was totally limp. He was dead! I am so confused and mortified. What could have happened? We need some closure for our little spunky friend Squirt. Please help!
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Christopher - 2011-08-09 Dear Renee You had everyting you neeeded for your turtle.
And one of them were healthy too. Maybe he strated to show his symtoms there,so maybe the pet shop give him to you so that he would infect the other turtles and they could get rid of him
You didn't do anything wrong
Justin - 2011-08-11 Well it could be from the lack of space or some kind of internal parasite problem. 20 gallons is too small for RES they prefer more spacious habitats. A good rule of thumb for that is that they need 10 gallons x their shells length, and 10 gallons X their shell width. Since you had two turtles you would need an aquarium twice that size. If it is an internal problem which it kind of sound like it was since you said it had trouble from the beginning. It's probably because the petstore or breeder or where ever you got them wasn't taking care of them properly and it was probably already sick when you bought it, because reptiles don't usually display symptoms of illness until it's Very sick. I would get Crush checked out ASAP. Any abnormalities should be investigated by a vet as soon as they occur. I hope this helps.
Christopher - 2011-08-10 Charlie I live in the uae
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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-10 My lightbulb is not going on here at all. I don't understand uae - I am sorry. You asked about the heater and said the water was freezing. In the house? Also you asked about light - the light to allow them to bask will also help with the water temperature and the UV light is for the health. I am dahhh sorry missing something. I do have blond days - too many of them actually.
Christopher - 2011-08-09 I have a pair of red ear sliders I have their tank,fillter and the heater but no basking area or heat lamp, and their heater does'nt seem to be working.
I mean like every time I put my hand in their water it's freezing.
But do I need a heat lamp for my turtles I put them in the sunlight almost everyday to bask so do I still need a heat lamp.
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Charlie Roche - 2011-08-09 Information on Animal World says a shop light with UVB-emitting bulbs and at least one basking spot with a 100 watt spotlight. This really doesn't have as much to do with heating as it does health. The red ears will tolerate cold and even be fine if their pond ices over going into hibernation but they do need UV light (sunlight) just like humans and they do need a basking area. Good news is it doesn't sound like they need the heater. They have those metal clamp on lights at Home Depot or Lowes (and they are cheap - maybe $2.99)and you can just put in 100 watt bulb in one and a UV in the other and you can direct the light. Sound good to you?
Jackie - 2011-05-27 My turtle (red-eared) looks like it leaks a red color substance through his shell. Is this common, or should I worry?
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Charlie Roche - 2011-05-28 I don't know but there was some information on Red eared turtle ailments and this is that info Not many, but shell and skin infections arise from poor nutrition and ear abscesses are occasionally seen in sliders kept in poor quality water with abnormally high levels of bacteria. These injuries can be treated by removing the turtle from the water. The infected area should be dried and an application of Betadine followed by a layer of silvadene cream should be applied. The turtle should be kept warm on a towel in a tub for several hours before it is returned to the water. This should be repeated every day for a week while the area heals. If the turtle's water is not clean and aerated the problem will recur quickly. If the turtle is being bullied or too many turtles are kept in a small enclosure, this and other problems will occur until the situation is corrected
Take him out and look him over very carefully to make sure no cuts, abrasions, scratches etc. OK let us know what happens
Lidia - 2011-05-24 i have 2 red eared slider for about two months now. I change their tank water every 2 weeks but it has a filter. I don't add any type of liquids to clean the water. I place some tablet to keep their shell strong. Lately one of the turtles is always in the water sleeping. It eats but it never moves or goes on the dock to get light. Should I be worried about this?
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Charlie Roche - 2011-05-25 I don't know that there is anything wrong but I would be concerned if the behavior of one has changed that much. If they both behave the same way, then I can understand. However, you are saying that the behavior of the one is different. Read the article on red Sliders and really look your little guy over to make sure there aren't any marks, sores, scratches etc. It does seem strange and possibly an infection.
The Red Eared Slider has been a favorite household pet for many years!
Man I love me some red ear sliders and guest what I have 3 of them.
I have 1 omg
Ok, so I am getting this kind of turtle for sure! How big should the tank be? How much do I feed hiM? Help, I need him b4 Christmas! HELP!
Just scroll up in this Animal World article to the Enviornment section and it tells you what size tank etc. Good luck and enjoy.
Do red sliders hibernate in winter?
I am thinking about getting a turtle. Recently I’ve looked at an African Sideneck, but those grow to be too big to fit in the tank I’ve gotten. Will these be small enough to live their entire lives in a 20-gallon tank?
You really need a bigger aquarium for a turtle. You can house juveniles in a smaller tank, but as they grow, you need to provide a bigger home. Even the smaller turtles, like the mud turtles and the musk turtles reach up to about 5" across, so a 55 gallon aquarium would be best for an adult of these species.
I purchased 2 red eared sliders 9 months ago for my son and we became very fond of them. We bought them a 20 gallon tank, equipped with filtration system, proper lighting, basking room, air rock....the works. From the beginning, I noticed that one turtle (Squirt is what we called him) was having a hard time seeing when we fed him. The other (Crush) was able to feed just fine and flourished. Squirt, however, I had to feed by hand because he had a hard time grabbing his worms or nutrition pellets when he couldn't quite see them. But 3 days ago, I noticed that his eyes looked a little bulgy, but he otherwise seemed fine. Then the next two days, he seemed weak, and when I fed him he was struggling to grip his food. I also noticed that his skin seemed to look a little swollen. I started to get worried, and was going to take him to the vet on Monday. However, tonight when I got home, I noticed that his body was completely swollen and his eyes looked like they were going to pop, and he was floating. I couldn't tell if he was alive or not until I took him out to observe and his neck was totally limp. He was dead! I am so confused and mortified. What could have happened? We need some closure for our little spunky friend Squirt. Please help!
Dear Renee You had everyting you neeeded for your turtle.
And one of them were healthy too.
Maybe he strated to show his symtoms there,so maybe the pet shop give him to you so that he would infect the other turtles and they could get rid of him
You didn't do anything wrong
Well it could be from the lack of space or some kind of internal parasite problem. 20 gallons is too small for RES they prefer more spacious habitats. A good rule of thumb for that is that they need 10 gallons x their shells length, and 10 gallons X their shell width. Since you had two turtles you would need an aquarium twice that size. If it is an internal problem which it kind of sound like it was since you said it had trouble from the beginning. It's probably because the petstore or breeder or where ever you got them wasn't taking care of them properly and it was probably already sick when you bought it, because reptiles don't usually display symptoms of illness until it's Very sick. I would get Crush checked out ASAP. Any abnormalities should be investigated by a vet as soon as they occur. I hope this helps.
Charlie I live in the uae
My lightbulb is not going on here at all. I don't understand uae - I am sorry. You asked about the heater and said the water was freezing. In the house? Also you asked about light - the light to allow them to bask will also help with the water temperature and the UV light is for the health. I am dahhh sorry missing something. I do have blond days - too many of them actually.
I have a pair of red ear sliders
I have their tank,fillter and the heater but no basking area or heat lamp, and their heater does'nt seem to be working.
I mean like every time I put my hand in their water it's freezing.
But do I need a heat lamp for my turtles
I put them in the sunlight almost everyday to bask
so do I still need a heat lamp.
Information on Animal World says a shop light with UVB-emitting bulbs and at least one basking spot with a 100 watt spotlight. This really doesn't have as much to do with heating as it does health. The red ears will tolerate cold and even be fine if their pond ices over going into hibernation but they do need UV light (sunlight) just like humans and they do need a basking area. Good news is it doesn't sound like they need the heater. They have those metal clamp on lights at Home Depot or Lowes (and they are cheap - maybe $2.99)and you can just put in 100 watt bulb in one and a UV in the other and you can direct the light. Sound good to you?
Mine is doing fine.
That's good.
My turtle (red-eared) looks like it leaks a red color substance through his shell. Is this common, or should I worry?
I don't know but there was some information on Red eared turtle ailments and this is that info
Not many, but shell and skin infections arise from poor nutrition and ear abscesses are occasionally seen in sliders kept in poor quality water with abnormally high levels of bacteria. These injuries can be treated by removing the turtle from the water. The infected area should be dried and an application of Betadine followed by a layer of silvadene cream should be applied. The turtle should be kept warm on a towel in a tub for several hours before it is returned to the water. This should be repeated every day for a week while the area heals.
If the turtle's water is not clean and aerated the problem will recur quickly. If the turtle is being bullied or too many turtles are kept in a small enclosure, this and other problems will occur until the situation is corrected
Take him out and look him over very carefully to make sure no cuts, abrasions, scratches etc. OK let us know what happens
i have 2 red eared slider for about two months now. I change their tank water every 2 weeks but it has a filter. I don't add any type of liquids to clean the water. I place some tablet to keep their shell strong. Lately one of the turtles is always in the water sleeping. It eats but it never moves or goes on the dock to get light. Should I be worried about this?
I don't know that there is anything wrong but I would be concerned if the behavior of one has changed that much. If they both behave the same way, then I can understand. However, you are saying that the behavior of the one is different. Read the article on red Sliders and really look your little guy over to make sure there aren't any marks, sores, scratches etc. It does seem strange and possibly an infection.