Other Turtle Discussion :: Introducing a new turtle to the tank

[kiwielise]

Hi there,

I have an eight year old red eared slider, she is about 13 cm long and 10 cm wide. I am hoping to get another turtle however it is hard to find people who are selling turtles of the same size with out tanks and accessories that I do not need. I am thinking that I might have to get a baby turtle and keep it in a separate tank next to my other turtle with supervised visits until the baby is big enough to be left safely with my other turtle. Is this a good way to introduce a new turtle? If I can find a bigger turtle I will still introduce the same way. Is this the best way for a successful introduction?

Thanks

[steve]

Hi, cohabitation is tricky, so if it doesn't work out you must be able to rehome one of them or keep them in separate setups.

Do not try to mix sizes, they should be roughly the same size for their safety.

The new addition should be quarantined for 3 months.

If you have a male RES, then keep him alone. They are best kept alone. You'll have a better chance of success with female RES, but that is no guarantee.

[kiwielise]

Do you think doing it the way I have planned is the best way to do it or is there another way that could end more successfully? My turtle is female so is it best to get another female?

[steve]

The most important thing to have is the means to separate immediately. Do not keep hatchlings with RES adult or yearlings... there are too many risks involved. 2 females have a better chance to get a long, but again that is no guarantee. RES are generally more aggressive than other turtles.

[TurtleDude2]

I have an adult male RES that is about 8 years old. He is very friendly and I used to house him with another female RES and the got along fine except he always ate more of he food. They were only about a year old when she got sick, so I quarantined her in hopes that she would recover but I couldn't help enough and she passed. I understand that housing two males in the same area would not be a good idea, but would it be alright to house a male and female RES in the same habitat if they are close enough in size and the habitat is large enough?

[steve]

Any male RES should be alone. You might have better luck with 2 females, but that is not a guarantee. It's a 50-50 shot when there are only females.

[TurtleDude2]

Even if they are housed in a large home made habitat from a rubbermade storage container for a pond or a large 50+ gallon outdoor pond that wouldnt be enough? I see a lot of peoples photos on this site and many of them are housing atleast two turtles in a smaller space than that.

[steve]

50 gallons is small for a single adult RES. Younger turtles might do well in their first year or two but it will not last.