I have a painted turtle in about a 20 gallon tank is that animal abuse?

Question

i was going to put a baby map turtle the size of a quarter in the tank that is about 20 gallons with about a 6 inch full grown turtle until it got to big and over crowded and i was going to put a soft shell turtle about the size of the map in about 20 gallons and i was going to put them in a plastic container would that be ok

Answer 1

I already answered this concerning tank size, except for the soft shell turtle, and the possibility of the babies being injured by the 6".

But to answer your question, no, it's not abuse, it's just a mistake.

You don't want to hear that the tank is too small, and that you shouldn't put baby turtles in with a 6" one in a small tank.

I just don't want to see those babies turtles get hurt.

We can only tell you what we think would be best.  It's up to you if you take our advice or not.

Good luck with your turtles.  

Answer 2

This tank is good for now....but you will need to go bigger.  I keep suggesting to people why not buy bigger now.....saves you money in the long run.

Plastic or glass it really doesnt matter as long as you have the proper setup....

Answer 3

Figure 10 gallons of tank per inch of shell, cumulative. A 6-incher plus a 1-incher would need 70 gallons but would outgrow the tank rapidly. Softshells should be housed alone. There is something about them that says "Bite me" to other turtles.

Answer 4

Night Hawk you see what people write and YOU know that its way to small. They will go crazy and get physically ill..Are you at least feeding fish?

They grow fast! A 55 plus size tank. Walmart sells a 55 gallon tank with hood, light and decent filter for $153.00.

But only one turtle per tank even in a 55 , a 6" turtle needs more rom. Geta kiddy pool and put in the yard with a T-pee sort of covering made of chicken wire.Email me I will tell you how I did mine yrs ago before my pond, K? You still need the rep light and large enough gravel they can’t swallow., and a dock…and fish .

I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries.. we can make something work for you.

.

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.

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