How can I convince my parents to let me get a bigger tank for my turtle?

Question

I got a baby red eared slider turtle about a year ago. He was about 1" long when I first got him and now he's 2". I keep him in a 16 gallon storage container and I know he's going to need a bigger tank soon. I want to get him a 55 gallon so he'll be able to stay in it for a while without needing a bigger one. But my parents won't let me get one because they say it won't fit in my bedroom. I know exactly how I could make room for it, just by taking some things out of my room that I don't really need. There's also an old table I found in my basement that my parents don't need, and the aquarium would fit on it, so they wouldn't have to get a stand for it. My parents say that my turtle's tiny and doesn't need a big tank, and they don't believe me when I tell them that they can get up to 12". I already have everything else I need for the tank and I have enough money to pay for it. How can I convince them to let me get one?

Answer 1

print out info.or this when I am done,

They NEED a big tank cause as they grow they eat more and foul the water and if you do not have a GOOD filter it can get sick.

Start cleaning your room and get rid of all you don't need and get that table from the basement and put it in your room and after the room is clean . Then show yopur parents you mean business and really need a 55 tank. I have had my 2 girls for 36 yrs. THat meant their 1st tank was a 40 gal, then a 60 gal and then a kiddy wadding pool for 6 yrs and then a plastic pond insert for yrs and then finally a SEARS stand alone pond for 250.00. Tell your parents they get sick easy..

Some illnesses:

*** Health Problems. If you take proper care of your red-eared slider by providing excellent housing, nutrition, lighting, and heating, it is unlikely to ever become ill or injured. However, it’s still important to familiarize yourself with ailments common to sliders so that you can quickly identify them in your own slider, should it become ill. The following are some of the most common medical problems among red-eared sliders.

“Fungal infections” are fairly common among red-eared sliders, especially younger ones. If you notice what looks like a light layer of cotton on your slider’s shell or eyes or in its mouth, this is most likely some form of fungal infection. Although their appearance can be alarming, most infections in their early stages are fully treatable at home. If a fungal infection remains untreated, however, it can spread across the entire body and cause serious harm to your turtle.

To treat a mild fungal infection, immerse your red-eared slider in a warm saltwater bath for about half an hour each day, using a soft sponge to gently scrub the infected regions. You can also treat patches of fungus with topical applications of a mild antiseptic, such as povidone-iodine. As long as the problem isn’t severe, you should notice signs of recovery within a day or two, and a full recovery in about 10–14 days.

If your turtle has a persistent fungal infection that home treatment isn’t curing, take it to the vet for treatment. Several medications are available that can address a fungal infection if it hasn’t spread too far.”

**Shell Rot. *** First make a dry box to keep the turtle in, shell rot needs water to grow.

Keep it warm and give it plenty of light. Scrub the shell gently with a toothbrush and water. Let the turtle swim for about 20 minutes a day in something other than his pond or tank that has real clean water. 1-2 times a day take a cotton ball apply Hydrogen Peroxide to it then to his shell. It'll start bubbling which means its cleaning it. it. DO NOT get it in his eyes. Then clean the shell and apply providone-iodine solution to the shell, coat the shell and don't clean it off until he is ready to swim the next day.** Keep this up for several weeks and it should go away. . MOST important !!! TOSS in a bird cuttle bone in the water for calcium. it will dissolve real slow and if they eat it that’s fine!!

Respiratory Infections *****Sliders, cooter, map, painted, yellow bellied and other aquatic species are susceptible to respiratory infections. Many respiratory infections that can affect sliders are mild and easily treatable in their EARLY stages, but there are also some particularly virulent infections that can kill a turtle very quickly without veterinary attention. Sliders usually develop respiratory infections when their tank is too cold. **Symptoms of an infection include a runny nose, wheezing, lopsided swimming (an ailing lung changes the turtle’s buoyancy), lethargy, and a refusal to eat. If you identify the illness in its early stages, you may be able to treat it by removing the sick slider from its quarters into a new, clean tank (especially if you keep multiple sliders, since the majority of respiratory infections are contagious) and keeping it a few degrees warmer than normal. Warmth is the most crucial factor in treating respiratory infections in the home. If the condition persists for more than a few days or worsens, bring your slider to your veterinarian, who will treat the infection with antibiotics.”

Swollen eyes are caused in 90% of cases for filthy water coming in contact with the slider. Some others are attributed to vitamin A deficiency and to chlorine water.

The Symptoms are bulging eyelids, as well as flaking of skin, and bloody skin patches. Swollen eyes can result in vision problems or can cause permanent blindness.

Prevention comes again tied to good husbandry and constant control of the water quality. Get the best filter for your tank.

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com, for a turtle vet in your city and state.

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB 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!

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

And a big tank 55 gallons or more..

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

I wish you luck,email if ya need more help!

Answer 2

Go to the library and get all the books you can on RESs. You may have to get some on interlibrary loan. Bookmark the pages that deal with maximum size and with properly-sized tanks. Add a diagram of your room that shows the table and tank in place and snow your parents under with data. Do be sure that the table can support all the weight of the tank and water. You may have to reinforce it.

Answer 3

Tell them it's so the turtle doesn't feel boxed in. Animal cruelty is no laughing matter. If that doesn't convince them then get a job and buy one yourself.

It's in the turtle's best interest.

Answer 4

what i do is i get all my money and pay for it set it all up and make it look all nice and cleaned and made sure it fits, let THEM notice it and how nice it looks and how happy da turtle is. It works w/ my parents! i might on yours

Answer 5

Ok,say that its no money out of there pocket tell them your plan and cross your fingers because i understand I have the same turtle and hes 13"hes huge so say please!!!!  

Answer 6

Here's what I would I do in your situation. Clean out the things from your room that you can and make the room for the tank. Pull that table into your room and get it all cleaned up and ready, and try to do all of this without them knowing or they may try to put a stop to it. If you just do it and show them that it will fit and that you are responsible enough to just do it on your own then it may make it easier. If you have the money and the vehicle to carry the tank to your house then you may just want to go and buy it and put it in there and see how long it takes them to notice. Below are some pictures and website that I would suggest printing out and then highlight the parts of the articles that say how big they get and what size tanks they need to survive. Either straight up show them the articles or just leave it lying around where they will be sure to see it and take notice.

Pictures:

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reptiles...

http://www.fowas.org/red%20eared%20slide...

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/ca...

http://www.brockettsfilmfauna.com/images...

http://photos.igougo.com/images/p66571-P...

Articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-eared_s... Under Behavior

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilest...

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/repti...

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?...

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilest...

Go ahead and email me whenever you want with whatever questions you may have and I'll do my best to help you out! [e-mail]

Answer 7

If you do get a 55 gallon aquarium, please be sure that the stand you get for it is made specifically for supporting an aquarium of that size.  Aquariums filled with water are extremely heavy, and if you don't have the proper support structure it could give out and the tank could crash to the ground and break....which would obviously be a very bad situation.

As far as convincing them, I would write an essay about why you should be able to get a larger aquarium.  Make sure in your essay you talk about responsibility, how you will pay for it yourself, and how it will make you feel better and grow as a person.   My little sister used to write essays to my parents when she wanted something, and they would ALWAYS let her get whatever she wanted.  I guess it was those young puppy dog eyes.  Good luck

Answer 8

Just show them the room that you have in your room and say that you can afford it so they don't have to spend a dime.

Then show them this. It is written by an expert.

Red-Eared Slider Turtle Care

Red eared sliders are semi-aquatic turtles that are very commonly kept as pets.

Unfortunately, lack of understanding what they require means that many red eared

sliders have died from improper care. While they are not overly demanding as pets,

many unsuspecting owners have been told that it was fine to keep them in small plastic

bowls. Needless to say this housing is completely inadequate and impractical - turtle

owners need to invest a fair amount in the proper equipment to house red eared

sliders. Once housed properly they are quite easy to care for, and with the proper

care these turtles can live 75 years or more, so turtle ownership is not a commitment

to be taken lightly. A full-grown red-eared slider can reach 12 inches in length

(measured as the carapace, or top shell, length).

Males tend to be smaller than females, but have large claws on the front legs and

longer tails than females.

Tank/Enclosure set up

Red-eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic and spend a significant amount of time

basking, so need a tank that provides both water for swimming and an area where they

can get out of the water for basking. A 40-gallon tank is considered a minimum,

though larger turtles will need a larger tank to provide ample swimming room (see

below) so even if you have a smaller turtle you might want to invest in a larger tank

to allow room to grow. You do not need to use an aquarium though - large plastic

containers or storage tubs are fine as long as you do not mind not being able to view

the turtles from the side. As long as the tank is tall enough and the basking area is

positioned so that the turtles can't climb out you won't need a lid. The basking area

can be provided by stacking smooth rocks, sloping smooth large gravel to one side to

make a land area, or using wood (fixed or floating).

However you design the tank though, keep in mind that turtles are messy and you will

need to clean the tank frequently. No gravel is required in the tank but if you choose

to use it make sure it is large enough that it won't be accidentally eaten.