Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Hi Im emad from qatar

[3emad]

hi everybody
i hope everything is OK
well i just bought 2 res 3 days ago and the seller told me that they are 3 months old
so please tell me how to take good care of them
and here are some pics of the tank

i know its standard but its the only tank i can afford
and the seller told me this is good enough for them because they are small
so please tell me if they can survive in this tank(without any special lighting and without heaters)
btw i feed them small shrimps and i put them under the sun everyday for one hour and i also change the water everyday
thanks

[my.lovely.turtle.]

Please, please, please read the information on this website.

For the tank - this is not appropriate for turtles of any size. The general rule is to have ten gallons of water for every inch of turtle. So if your turtle is one inch, it will need ten gallons. They do grow rather quickly so it's always nice to think ahead and get as big a tank as you can. Some need up to 120 gallon tank? Please someone correct me if that's wrong.

For the filtration - turtles are said to be very messy. Most get filters that are rated about three times as much as their tank is. So if the tank is ten gallons, we would get a filter that is rated for thirty gallons. Dirty water can cause turtles to get sick.

For light - They need a heat lamp to be able to bask.

For "the sun" - they need a UV light so they can get beneficial U V rays, which is artificial sun.

For basking - they need a basking area where they can completely get out of the water. This prevents shell rot.

Please do not believe anymore things that the seller has told you. They are only interesting in selling their turtles, not the well being of the turtles.

Ask as many questions as you can here!!! and as for a tank, a rubbermaid container works wonders if money is an issue.

Please please please ask more questions. We want the best for you and your turtle.

[3emad]

thanks a lot for helping me through this and i will buy another tank soon because i really like my turtles and want the best for them

[3emad]

i wanna ask also about the food
i only feed them dried shrimps because the seller told me to do so
is this good enough ?
if not what also can i feed them?
sorry for asking a lot of questions

[3emad]

thanks a lot for helping me through this and i will buy another tank soon because i really like my turtles and want the best for them


and for the lighting . UV lights are not available here in Qatar(i looked for them and i didnt find)

[my.lovely.turtle.]

I would get the regular pellets. Shrimp is supposed to be more of a snack or a treat for a turtle, because it has too much protien. Also feeding your turts vegetables are good. There is a list of what you should and shouldn't feed your turtle on this website.

They do need UV lights, so I guess you will have to order one online.

[3emad]

can you also tell me what is the ideal height of water for small turtles

[my.lovely.turtle.]

the more water the better. Turtle are natural born swimmers. So yes, more water the better!!! Lots lots lots.

[3emad]

one last question
can you tell me for how long can i keep my turtles out of the tank?
because they like to stay outside the tank more than staying in it and they also like to climb my hand so is it OK to keep carrying them?

[my.lovely.turtle.]

It's okay to carry them. Just make sure you wash your hands properly after. Turtles don't need to be held too much though, they are more of a "let them be" kind of pet. As for how long you can keep them out of water? I'm actually not too sure. Maybe Marisa or Steve can answer that question.

[steve]

Hi, welcome to the site! my.lovely.turtle has put you towards the right direction. In the right situation, your turtle can stay out for hours, but since your turtles are new to you and you are new to turtle keeping, I would keep that kind of contact to a minimum. As for carrying them, do you mean handling? Same rules apply, keep it to minimum and work on getting that new tank. Do you mind me asking how old you are? Would getting a large tank be an issue?

[3emad]

hi again
thanks a lot for answering my questions i really appreciate it
im 23 and im working on my new tank (i will make it my self)

[steve]

Thanks for answering. I try to discourage very young owners for handling their turtles too much

The tank doesn't need to be the traditional glass setup, people have come up with many different ideas on how to house their RES.