How do I set up my baby turtle tank?

Question

Just caught a baby painted turtle Up North. We put it in a aquarium with water and a big log for it to sit on when it doesn't want to swim. Is this good for now?

Answer 1

get rocks it will make them feel more at home i've had turtles ever sine i can remember i love bringing them home from up north ok what kind of log do you have? if it's treated get it out now cause it's toxic plastic rock or logs are great i like to pile more rocks on one side of the tank to rase the log up more so i can put more water in the tank what size of tank do you have if it's to small it will deform your turtle over time you can tell if it's new "plates lol" on it's shell start to get crunched looking get a heat lamp that is a must or it WILL die!! a 60watt balb will work if you don't it's shell will get soft then it will get sick and die i learned that when i was a lil kid it was sad :( it was my first turtle i ever had try to feed it lil fish if it's big enought to eat it idk how big it is try dried shrip "as a snack" it's like candy for them if you get lazzy later lol get a filter for your tank keep in mind turtles are dirty so over size the filter for yout tank and rinse the filter frequently pellets are a great food for them they will eat dried crickets and flies and moths ants i love painted turtles i've had 6 or so at one time once lol i have one right now and a snaping turtle lol he's sweet!!! lol later in life you can tell the s*x of your turtle by it's front claws if they are short it's a female if they are long it's a male "use your imagination" lol good luck

Answer 2

I have had 2 sliders for 36 yrs now plus a 7 yr old and a 5 yr old. This is how I have taken care of them for 36 yrs. Great pets.

I have had them in a stand alone 150gal pond from sears..for about 6 yrs now..

Here is some important and a lot of info. If he or she is small get feeder guppies or small feeder goldfish, frozen brown worms ..or live brown worms from a fish store. petco and or petsmart do not carry live worms..

Red-eared sliders, Gender especially juveniles, can be difficult to s*x. Gender in adults is determined by external physical characteristics and behavior. In Comparison to females, males have longer fore claws (which are use in courtship), a longer tail length, a longer distance from the body to the vent opening, a tail that is thicker at the base and generally a smaller body size and shell length. Turtles are considered juveniles till after 5 yrs old.

Their Home

The minimum enclosure size for hatchling re-eared slider should be a 20-gallon aquarium. As a general rule, the water depth should be at least 2 times the turtle's length, with several extra inches of air space between the surface of the water to the top edge of the tank to prevent escapes. For 4 to 5 inch long sliders, the recommended minimum enclosure surface area is 50 gal plus tank with an extra square foot for each additional turtle.

What to Feed

In the wild, re-eared sliders eat both animal and plant sources of food. However, juveniles are mainly meat eaters but still love the greens.

In captivity, the diet for juveniles should consist primarily of a commercial aquatic turtle pellet. Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed on a daily basis; however, they should be offered no more than they will consume during a single session to minimize water contamination. The diet can be supplemented with live fish of an appropriate size (guppies, goldfish),  tubiflex worms and earthworms. Plant matter, in the form of chapped leafy greens or finely chapped mixed vegetables, can be offered once weekly but may not be readily accepted until they grow older. Fill tank with approx 20 feeder guppies and or 10 to 15 small goldfish. you’ll know when to replenish the live food supply. just count what’s left

For adults, 20% of the diet may consist of commercial turtle pellets. Plus 80% of their diet is fresh alive fish to catch in their water which also gives them exercise when trying to catch to eat. Adults should be fed greens kale, romaine, red leaf lettuce, mustard greens, dandelion, watercress, parsley. Swiss chard, shredded carrots, shredded squash, thawed frozen mixed vegetables and miscellaneous fruits. Adults can be fed every two to three days. NO iceberg or cabbage!!

Vital Statistics

Total Body length: 5-8" average, up to 12 inches max.

Life span: 15-25+ years

Males have the longer foreclaws..

Water quality and Filtration

Sliders are voracious feeders and tend to foul the water quickly with their messy eating habits and frequent defecation. Therefore, a system needs to be in place for good water quality. Partial to full water changes can be performed. Many different filter systems are available ..

Common 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

“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.”

Respiratory Infections

“Slider turtles and other aquatic species are susceptible to respiratory infections. Most 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.”

Contact the “herpetologicalsocieties.com“.

Good luck

Answer 3

You're right. It doesn't need anything on the bottom of the tank and gravel can kill it.

Figure 10 gallons of tank per inch of shell. The log is fine, if the turtle can get up on it to bask.

Answer 4

I have three red ears. i don't use gravel or anything. they are now in a pond. the reason i did not use it was that it held in the dirt making it very hard to clean, also they like to eat everything. they don't need it. its so much easier to clean with out. you will learn. I would get something more flat that can be stationed so it is easy to climb up on. and the temp should be between 72-82. they need sunlight if not artificial sun light. also a teaspoon of salt mixed in the water helps heal scars if any. it also helps prevent allergies. hope this helps email me if you want more info from me-

Answer 5

hes prob just adjusting and isnt anxious to go swimming. do you have some sort of dirt/ bedding on the bottom? if not, get some ASAP.

Answer 6

It is ok to have some gravel or dirt on the bottom. They usually live in lake which have dirt at the bottom. The set up sounds ok but depending on the size of the aquarium you will have to get a bigger one eventually. As for cleaning you can put a pump in the tank to help with cleaning. I have a red ear slider and I have a pump in the tank and he actually prefers to sit on that and not the       sunning area I have for him =)

Answer 7

Ah the same thing happened to me about 3 years ago,

First off Get  a ten gallon tank,

The put Rocks (like in fish tanks)

And put about an inch worth.

Then if you have some bigger rocks, Put them in there. (big enough to lay on, But make sure a good amout is in the water.) When your there ask the people, they can be VERY helpful.

Then you need to get a heat lamp. (can get at reptile stores.)

And hook it up about the cage.)

But don't leave it on all the time.

Answer 8

wild caught turtles do not make good pets.  please return it in the same area that you found it.  if you keep it, chances are good you will kill it.  please do what is best for the turtle, and not what you want.