What kind of turtle do I have? HELP!?

Question

I just got won a small turtle at a local fair and I'm not sure what kind he is. He has webbed claws in the front and the back, he has light orange stripes on both of his cheeks, on the bottom of him is yellow and he has brown circles with little black lines in them, and he has a some what flat shell. It starts out flat then it get a little pointy at the top. I don't want to lose my turtle so soon so I need help ASAP so I can give him the proper care that he needs.

Answer 1

The orange stripes on his cheeks suggests that he's a red earded slider. The most common form of aquatic turtle. :D

Good luck with him. I own one myself.

Answer 2

Its most likely a Red Eared Slider, they're extremely common, and about the only think I can think of that a fair would have.  Pictures would be extremely helpful though.  As it is though, for an aquatic turtle (which yours is), you'll need an aquatic setup.  If your turtle is under 3 inches or so, a 10 gallon will work, if not, minimum 20 long.  Fill it up about 1/3 to a bit more of water.  Get an aquarium heater, a small turtle tank filter, a heating lamp, and a UVB bulb.  These things really aren't optional.  Turtles can be expensive to keep, and are rather high maintenance.  You'll need, pending his size, either feeder fish, crickets, or some such live feeder food.  This is just a basic intro, you can do some more research and find out a bit more.  Also if you have a pic you can send it to me and I'd be more than glad to try and give you a more accurate identification.

Answer 3

I too think this is a red-eared slider turtle from the description...however it is sometimes difficult to tell without having an actual picture of the turtle. His feet are webbed though, which does indicate the turtle is water turtle as opposed to a land turtle which further makes me think it is a red-eared slider.  Here is a site that will give you tips on taking care of the little guy if it is indeed the breed that you have.

http://redearslider.com/

Good luck and I hope your little friend has a long healthy life =)

Answer 4

It's probably a Red Eared Slider.  

I can't believe they're giving those out at fairs... Betcha 95% of them die within the first year because people win them and don't know how to care for them!  They are not low maintenance pets!

First off, they get very big.  We're talking dinner plate sized.  You need about a 90 Gallon tank (over $200 new) once they're full grown (about 4 years to get this size).  It'll work out cheaper for you if you get the big tank now, instead of constantly buying upgrades for him as he grows.  

They are very messy.  In the water side of the tank, they need a good filter (ranges greatly in price depending on the type - for a good one you're looking at at least $50 - I recommend the Fluval 3 Plus or 4 Plus because they are fully submersible but you should also get some filter carbon to put in there too), and a heater (around $30 depending on Wattage).  You need to do complete water changes every week, making sure to use water conditioner when you put new water in the tank.

They also require UVA and UVB rays so they don't get soft shells and Metabolic Bone Disease - a deforming, potentially fatal disease that results from not having the proper UVB rays to metabolize calcium from their diets.  That means two fixtures ($30 each) a heat lamp ($8 - $10 each to be replaced every 6 months or so) and a UVB lamp (ranging in price from about $12 - $90 for the preferred UVB tubes).

For tank set up, create a water side and a dry land side (or at least a haul-up spot for the turtle to hang out and catch those good 'ol UVB and UVA rays).  On the dry land side, put both the UVA and UVB bulbs pointing down onto the basking area.  In the water side, you'll have your filter and your heater.  Besides that, you get to be creative.

After the initial setup they are relatively inexpensive to keep.  The main things you'll need to keep replacing are your light bulbs, food, and filter media.

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to message me!  I hope this helps.

**EDIT** I just read over my answer and I think I made it sound like turtles are crappy pets to have.  This is not true and they are actually awesome and really entertaining!  Didn't mean to make it sound like that, just wanted to make it clear that they're not at all low-maintenance.  If you put in the time and TLC, they can be very rewarding pets :)

Answer 5

sounds like a red earded slider

Answer 6

Sounds like u have a slider

Answer 7

i have to say i am a little upset that you adapted this turtle not knowing that they are a huge responsibility! first read all of this and see if you have this setup, it costs at least $300, and is a regular setup. All the stuff is expensive!- Really, you have to be very responsible to own a pet turtle, because they are a huge responsibility. You have to be a loving, caring person who is willing to care for a turtle every single day! Really it is a big job for some people, but if you are willing to accept the challenge then go for it.

************ This is a setup for a red eared slider the most common type of turtle, they get up to 12 inches, but you will see them as babies at a store commonly, so know that they will grow very big**************

You will need to get a 50 gallon starter tank and upgrade to a 75 gallon later on when your turtle is over 6 inches...If you can not get that big of a tank right now then for now you can use a huge rubbermaid container filled up with clean warm water 5/6 of the way. The water should be 75-82F, that can be achieved by buying a water heater at the petstore, along with a water filter. Water filters that are best are canister filters, like the Rena xp3 filter which costs $200, but filters very well. Do buy a filter please, even a cheap one at $25, is better then none at all, since turtles are extremely messy and p**p-ful (haha). The bottom of the tank should be bare, no gravel because they could choke on that mistaking it for food. On top of the water you need 3 things, 1. a basking dock ( buy a large size zoomed basking dock). 2. you 100% need to buy a basking lamp+bulb, you buy them separatly, then s***w the bulb in ( 50 watts) and shine it on the basking dock over a mesh hood( cut a hole out of it and place the light there!). 3. This is very important, you need a uvb light. It is a long thin light, you need to get the actual lamp+ the long skinny bulb. Reptosun 5.0 is the best bulb( together costs $55). Shine that onto the basking dock as well. Turtles need these together because they use the uva for heat, so they stay warm ( the basking site should be 90-95F, not colder) and they need the uvb rays to metabolize calcium and vitamin d3 for a stronger shell ( like you need it for your bones!) The diet for the turtle should be reptomin pellets ( and other nutricuos pellets!) crickets, mealworms, bloodworms, shrimp, and krill. All of this is found dead at the petstore!;) They also need vegetation, get kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, and collard greens. Drop all of the food in the tank once a day, and remove any leftover bits after a few hours. By the way ALL of the protien food ( dead food, that was alive once) should be dusted with a calcium supplement ( powder) and you need to get a cuttlebone found in the bird aisle of the petstore and drop it in the water for him to knaw on, keep it there for a while (month) until she eats all of it, then get another. Once all of these things are done your turtle will be pretty happy!

Answer 8

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

Does he look like these, they are mine.

Sliders, Cooters , painted ,map and yellow bellied are require the same care and feeding. I have two that are 36 yrs old!! Plus an 8 and 5 yr old.

I have had them in a pond for about 6 yrs now..

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.

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!

They need leafy greens for vitamins at least 3 to 4 times a week.

And a big tank 55 gallons or more..

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

Males have the longer front nails and thick tails.

sickness to look for ..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.

Give the necessary vitamins and nutrients to your animal.

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

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