Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: New in VA

[michelleighall]

Daughter came home from Myrtle Beach with not one, but four! red eared slider babies. Size of a silver dollar bought at Tshirt store along the strip in a tiny plastic box with a plastic plam tree, ziploc bag of pellets she was told would last her all year, and the habitat would be their permanent home as they wouldn't get any bigger. Unbelievable stores can get away with that. I got home and she and my son had them all swimming in the tub. What else would anyone not knowing a thing about them do? After much research and a few hundred dollar trip to the pet store, they were put in 30 gallon tank, heater, filter, basking station, daylights, nightlights, screen , real food, real treats and so on. A year later the length of their shell measures 2.75 in of the smallest and 3.5 in of the largest. Maybe difference in size is sex since the little guy does his share of eating? I am about to move them to a 75 gallon tank since I keep reading 10 gallons per inch of turtle. So far they get along though when they see me coming with food it looks like they are trying to drown each other to get to the top first. What to do for a habitat when they reach adult size??

[Mistic811]

My first thought when I read your post was build a pond! Lol I'm still kinda new but I know a few things. You can't tell sex until at least 4 in. Females can get up to 12 in. You would need a ginormous tank for all of them, and thats if the all still get along when they are bigger. You can get stock tanks at farm supply places they are pretty big and cheaper that glass tanks. I went to myrtle beach in July and came home with 2 yellow bellied sliders. good luck with your little ones. Would love to see pics.

[kamekichi]

Hi michelleighall! The beginning of your story sounds exactly like what happened to me this summer. It's encouraging that your little guys are doing so well a year later! Would love to see pics if you get a chance!

[penelope]

Welcome!!!
At least they can only get so big. 75 gallons is pretty spoiled
When you upgrade the size, obviously, you will need to upgrade the filter, heater, etc.
My only recommendation with your new tank is to grab a calculator and a figure out the largest filter, heater wattage, etc. that won't be overkill for 75 gallons, but will carry though to 95 or a 100 gallons - that's the stuff that kills the pocket book when upgrading. It may hurt to shell out the cash now, but at least you only have to shell it out once.
As for when they are adults, it's hard to say = I guess it depends on how well they get along when they grow out of their baby size. You may find you need to separate a bully, or keep a love-struck couple apart, or...who knows.
Best wishes!

[steve]

Welcome to the site. You should wait until you know all their genders before planning for their final home. Though a pond is a good idea