Hi everybody, I've been visiting this site off and on for several months and finally decided to create an account. It's been quite the adventure getting my RES settled in and your site was an invaluable resource in helping me set up my habitat.
The story so far:
I was visiting some old classmates in Los Angeles this past May and while hanging out at a friend's house noticed two tiny RES sitting in a little plastic deathcube on the dining room mantel. There was no heat lamp, UVB bulb, filter, heater, or anything else except a few pieces of neon-colored gravel and a couple millimeters of brackish water on the bottom. Although it was after midnight, the turtles were still awake, because people were sitting at the dining table and had the overhead light on. I have a bearded dragon at home, so I know what specialized requirements captive reptiles have, and I was absolutely horrified at the conditions these RES were living in. After talking to the caretakers (two international students who had bought the turtles illegally in Chinatown), I persuaded them to let me take the RES home with me. You can imagine the strange looks I got on the plane ride home!
It's been three months now, and the little guys seem to be doing well. They've been dubbed Yertle and Skipperdee. At present they're each about 1.5" long, are eating well, and seem alert and interested in their surroundings. No major problems yet, although one does have a few small patchy areas on his (her?) shell, which I'm working on clearing up.
You are a good person.