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Hello to all... I have 2 RES they are about 4 years old. I recently took over my step-brothers turtle, and its becoming a financial problem... Having 1 was "ok" but now that I have the bigger tank 100 Gal + the extra filters, and now of course what goes in must come out theory, I am having a hard time keeping up with these guys...and I feel I am lacking in the care department... These guys are not like my Lab, who I tie out to go potty...

I live north of Pittsburgh, Pa, I HATE to get rid of them, yet it has become expensive (just got laid off)... I also think I have a male and a female, and by no means (even tho it would be neat) do i want babies... The one turtle is about 6" long and 5 5/1" wide and the other is about 4 or 5" long and maybe 4 - 5" wide. it has super long nails, so it is not easy to get that one out of the tank...

My thought is " IF i were to get rid of them, I dont want them to get hurt, so just letting them go in a lake or pond is OUT of the question" and is not what a responsible pet owner would do, also I know by saying I cant have them any longer looks bad, But I am going to try make right by them...

I have looked online and I heard there is a place up near Erie, Pa that may have a place but I cant seem to find it... Please advise...

Releasing them is not really an option. The closest thing for a captive RES "release" is into a private, controlled pond. If you decided you don't want them, try to find friends / relatives who might be interested in a new pet, and you'll be able to educate them correctly too. You can also look into local rescues.

Stock tanks are really the cheapest way to house them, though there are absolute steals on aquariums at craigslist. Once that is out of the way, you need good filtration, though there are really cheap DIY alternatives and filters from good brands should last at least 5 years.

I don't understand, how is it expensive if you already have the supplies? Filter media isn't changed very often and a large can of food lasts for ages. What gets replaced the most are the bulbs and even then it's only every 6 months or so.

Yes, they are expensive. It sounds to me like you do not have large enough filter if the poo is becoming a problem. A lot of folks are in the same situation as you and find out after they get the cute little thing. Good Luck!

jwinters wrote:I don't understand, how is it expensive if you already have the supplies? Filter media isn't changed very often and a large can of food lasts for ages. What gets replaced the most are the bulbs and even then it's only every 6 months or so.

I agree with you, and would love to know the answer to this question as well.

jozzep wrote:

jwinters wrote:I don't understand, how is it expensive if you already have the supplies? Filter media isn't changed very often and a large can of food lasts for ages. What gets replaced the most are the bulbs and even then it's only every 6 months or so.

I agree with you, and would love to know the answer to this question as well.

I agree that you agree with him. Would like to know how it is expensive.

He needs to upgrade and separate them, plus there is no mention of lighting/basking equipment... that can be expensive.

Can I tell you that after reading this thread, it is true. I am sitting here sulking in my own sorrow, because I was in the same situation. Believe it or not, I just gave away my two young turtles a few weeks ago. It was EXTREMELY difficult. I bought two in NY and brought them home (drove 880 miles). I can't begin to tell you how much time I spent caring for them. Don't get me wrong--if I could go back 2 weeks, I would have never given them up. One died about a month later from R.I. and the second one I saw had the same symptoms. Within minutes we went right to the vet. Money was no object. I gave him shots and by the next day, we was perfect and healthy! About 4 months later, one of my elementary students came to school with a baby RES. I offered to take him/her, since I knew how to take care of them and mine was alone. Well, the two got along so well. I spent $300.00 to board them with the vet over the summer because I trusted noone else to care for them for the three weeks I was on vacation (I'm a teacher). I then went away another 2 weeks and had one of my trusted students and his mom watch them (for $100). I've spent well over $1500 in the 9 months I've had them. I watched them grow since they were the size of a quarter and have fed them unbelievable amounts of food. I was changing their tank every OTHER day. I don't know how, but I was feeding them outside of the tank in a pail (they both ate whole crickets, and about 4 various types of healthy food) so that the tank would hopefully stay cleaner, longer. I went through so much food. It was unreal how much these two ate! I decided to give them away because I felt that they were just getting to be too much time to maintain them, and no matter what I did to make it easier to make cleaning the tank, the filter would still need to be changed at least every 2 to 3 days. And that was WITH feeding them outside of the tank, and scooping up everything in the tank with a net twice a day. The vet said they were the most well-taken care of turtles he'd ever seen. I hate that I gave them away--Petco took them. And I know here in Atlanta, they would be well taken care of. Well, hours later I wanted them back and they told me that their vet picked one up (for an exam). I said I'd call him and pay whatever cost to get him back. Petco said they'd hold the other one. Well, the vet already adopted the one out, so I decided not to take back the other one (unless I got both back). I think I cried for 2 days. It was the worst decision I ever made. I feel like I abandoned them. I had no idea I'd miss them so much. I think it was mostly about the time spending with them and that as a teacher, I wasn't home more than I wanted to. And trust me, I considered having them in the classroom, but I'd have to have them over the weekend to feed them, so it would never have worked. I put some pictures on here awhile ago, so it's even sadder to look at them. I hope they are in a home that spoiled them as much as I did. Sorry that this is long and boring. I needed to vent, I guess!

You did what you thought was in their best interest at the time and I understand how difficult that was. It's never an easy choice. I'm very sorry you no longer have them