Hi,my son's have two turtles in a large igloo ice chest full of water?

Question

and there outside in the backyard all night.The temp. at night is in the 50's.Are these condition's ok?

Answer 1

No,, not really.  Can you get a kiddy pond at least and put in the yard?  For sunlight for Vitamin D, like kids need. With some rocks in the middle so they can get out? Toss in some fish and lettuce. This is what is needed,K. Temp needs to be 75 degrees at least. They will sleep at the bottom of whatever you have them in.  They sleep  the wild on the bottom of the rivers or streams lakes ponds, and tanks.

The bigger the environment the bigger the healthier the turtle.

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA for 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they need to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

You need a good filter system! Gravel larger than they can swallow.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear! This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They can have garden worm, meal worms, crickets, flies anything that moves!

They need leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing, blowing bubbles, Swollen cloudy eyes means lacking in Vitamin A. Which we all need for good eyes. Google ‘vegetables with Vitamin A.

Walmart sells a 55 gallon tank with hood, light and decent filter for $153.00. You would need to buy some extra stuff, but that is a cheap tank set up with a good filter. You still need the rep light and large enough gravel they can’t swallow., and a dock…and fish and rep food.

I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

Total Body length: 5-8" average, up to 12 inches max. Life span: 15-25+ years

Males have long front nails and a fatter tail.

Answer 2

you didn't say what kind of turtles you have.  are they land turtles?  water turtles?  It makes a big difference.  bad, bad conditions.

Answer 3

No, not OK. Sounds like a death sentence.

You should release them where they were found.

Answer 4

YOU ANIMAL ABUSER!!!!!!!!!Give me your phone # i need to call the animal cops on you! GOD the poor TURTLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i am ashamed of you and your son,:((((((((((

Answer 5

1st get them out of those harsh weather condititions, 50 degrees is waaaay to low!

20 gallons WILL NOT DO!!!!

If you would like to go the cheaper route, go buy the biggest plastic tub you can get, and possibly find a new home for 1 of the turtles.

Turtles require lots of swimming space, with a UVA light to replace the sun, as well as a heating lamp for basking.

In the plastic tub you'd need a good amount of water as well as a dry area for it to get out of the water.

Answer 6

No, that really isn't OK...

However, if your sons really like the turtles and you're willing to keep them, get them a 20 gallon reptile tank and bring them inside.  Turtles make great family pets.  They need a heat lamp, a floating something or other to get out of the water and bask on, and some reptile food.  

Best of luck, just make sure to give them some dry land to get out of the water on and some warmer temps.  

Answer 7

How would you like to live in that, NO its not okay. Turtles need air, sun, heat, food, clean water, access to land and more than he is giving them. I he isn't going to care for them properly then they should go back where they came from.