Whats needed for yellow-bellied terrapins

Question

i am looking to buy a yellow-bellied terrapin i have a 2 foot tank but i would like to no what else is needed and roughly how much the set up will be

Answer 1

Well first off, many kuddos for researching the animal and its needs before getting it, and then wondering what to do.  The habitat should be set up, and water and basking temperatures set before you bring home the new turtle.

By a 2 ft. tank?  I have no idea how many gallons that is.  A 20 gal. long aquarium is 30".  So, is it a 15 gal.?  Either way, it will soon be entirely too small for a growing turtle.  If your new turtle is a hatchling, you can start him in there, but that means getting a larger tank soon.  You can use the 15 gal. for a feeding tank later (to move him to, to eat messy things like fish), when the turtle has grown a bit.

The rule of thumb for water turtles is that they will need 10 gal. of water per one inch of their shell length.  So, if the adult turtle is 10" it will need a 100 gal. tank.

You will need:

-Basking perch

-Basking light

-UVB light http://www.uvguide.co.uk/

-Digital probe thermometer to measure basking and water   temperatures (strip thermometers can be inaccurrate up to 20            degrees)

-Filter (rule of thumb is the filter should clean three times the actual tank size i.e. if the tank is a 15 gal., the filter should be for 45 gal.)

From there, you will need to research the proper diet.  http://reslider.free.fr/backup/feeding.h...  

Turtles fall ill quickly when they do not receive proper nutrition and UVB light.  If you'd like a basic diet, you can email me at [e-mail] and type FEEDING TURTLES on the subject line.  When you offer insects to your turtles, those should be gut loaded first.  I also have a recipe for that if you'd like it.

Young turtles can drown, so the water depth depends on the age/size of the turtle you get.

Other than that, it's just researching your turtle, and learning as much about it from a baby right up to becoming an adult so you can be sure you are caring for its needs properly.

I'll post some sites below to get you started on your research.  Some will be for Red Ear Sliders, but the care for a RES and Yellow Belly is the same.

An informed owner is a happy one with a healthy and content pet.

Most of all, enjoy your new turtle.

I hope this has been of help.

Answer 2

Here is a good caresheet:

http://www.petngarden.com/fish/fish13.ph...

Mostly large tanks, heat bulbs, UVB reptile lights, water heater, water filter, digital probe thermometer.  

Answer 3

If you have allot of $$$$ and start out with a 60 gal plus size tank and great filtration system for Aquatic turtles I say do it!

They are the cutest!

A 60 gallon tank to start cause they grow quick.

A real good filter cause they p**p allot!

A rep light for 8 to 10 hrs of basking gives them vitamin D which promotes shell growth.

Plenty of feeder guppies, minows and goldfish, and leafy greens at least 3 times a week.

This way they get the calcium from the fishes bones and protein, lettuce gives them the vitamins they need.

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..

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