Hi,
I just joined this site, it is great to see so much knowledge.
I would appreciate your help with a decision I need to make. I am located in Turkey and have a male red slider, he has been with me for 20 years. The first couple of years with fishes, they all died or have been eaten later including the large ones. He has been alone since then, looks happy as long as anyone opens the door to feed him which he celebrates by almost jumping out. My turtle hasn't had a health problem so far, the space I provide is not huge but ok, filtering system works fine.
I decided to improve the conditions but for a long time I have been thinking if it is selfish to keep my slider considering better enviroments and living in a group opportunity for him (does it really matter?) in a large public aquarium. Of course countless people around me asking why I keep such a pet and don't release him (you know how people think about turtles as they don't interact like a dog, we are used to ignore that, right) is another point, but i know that he can't survive in the wild.
My option is donating to an aquarium that houses around 50-60 red sliders in a large tank living together.
After so many years if I can make the hard decision to donate him to live in a larger group would that be a better decision for my pet or should I keep him and place in a larger tank in further improved conditions? I just want to do what is good for him but if there won't be a huge change for him of course I prefer keeping my pet.
Any opinions, experiences would be highly appreciated.
Thanks!
