What size tank should i buy for a baby red eared slider turtle?

Question

i bought a little baby red eared slider turtle in DC a couple of weeks ago and ive been keeping it in a little tank. (when you first buy one).

my little tank broke so i put it in my mothers tank which has two african cichilids (fish) in it. what size tank should i go buy to keep my turtle healthy so it can grow. what should i put in the tank..also. (a rock,light,filter?)

Answer 1

I say a ten gallon till he is a little smaller than your entire hand, then move to a 29 gal long.  

Answer 2

They grow fast!  A 55 plus size tank. Walmart sells a 55 gallon tank with hood,light and filter for $153.00.  You would need to buy some extra stuff, but that is a cheap tank set up with a good filter.

I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurserys.. The bigger the enviroment the bigger the turtle.

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...

Answer 3

i recommend a 20 gallon tank long meaning longer and shorter not higher with less distance its so they have more room to swim

Answer 4

Buy the largest tank you can afford. Eventually, you might have to go up to 125 gallons for a big female. Some people get around the cost problem by using plastic totes, wading pools, bathtubs, or refrigerator-liners. I used to use large troughs of marine plywood heavily coated with fibreglass resin.

You will need a basking site with lights to provide heat and UV light. In addition, a filter rated for two or three times the size of your tank will help keep the water clean. What you don't want is gravel or piles of stones that could slip and pin the turtle under water.

Answer 5

Always go bigger than you think. The more room they have to swim around and feel free the happier it will be. You will need a filter, a UV light and at least a dock that is under the light for your turtle to bask on.  You can definitely put a rock in with it, even little rocks on the bottom for color/decoration. You can get creative and get fish tank decor, like treasure chests and rocks with holes in them for your turtle to hide in. If you put plants in with it I would suggest real plants over plastic ones. I have heard of sliders getting a little aggressive and liking to pull the plants up, if they are real and it accidentally ingests some of it it won't be as likely to be harmful.

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/photos/repti...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/pa...

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/photos/repti...

Above are a few links to pictures of what some other people have done for their sliders. If you have any more questions you can email me at [e-mail] and I will do my best to help you out!  Have fun and good luck!