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[CrushTheTurtle]

Hello all. I'm a new owner of a baby RES kind of by surprise. My mother was working out in the yard pulling weeds when she found a little creature running across our lawn. She picked it up to find it was a baby RES turtle which was a surprise to both of us. After living here for about 12 years, we have never seen a turtle in this area until now (internet says they're common in our geographical region however). Taking a deeper perspective into the situation we figured the best thing to do would be to find a shelter (none we can think of around here) or keep him. My girlfriend has always wanted a turtle so I figured I'd pull some cash out of savings and start something we can bond over. So now I'm here with this little guy named Crush and I'm hoping I'll get to keep him for as long as he shall live. From what I've seen they tend to have very big personalities if you take care of them and I plan on doing my best. So without further to do, meet Crush!

turd.jpg (83.6 KiB) Viewed 7113 times

Now with the intro part of this over with, I would love to hear any suggestions as to methods you guy used to help build their comfort with you and 'tame them' I suppose you could say. I heard eventually they learn to trust you because you're their food source and to help them with that it's a good method to prime them by shaking the food container for them to hear, or tap the glass, etc. so they know it's food time. Another guy I saw said to try and put them in a plastic bowl and keep them next to you as you watch TV, etc. just so they're used to your presence. One thing I'm trying is to pick him up and stroke his shell. He seems to like this and seems to have fallen asleep one time, it's just when he's back in his aquarium he seems scared of my presence once again. I know it may be a long process so any suggestions are appreciated.

His setup is a 20 gallon tank, a cheap filter (good reviews and does the job), a UV(A/B) bulb over a floating basking dock, and a heating light source over a higher basking platform I made of PVC piping which I will post images of. He also has a water heater rated at about 78* for a 20 gal., however it's putting out exactly 80 according to the thermometer in the water. I feed him meal worms, earth worms (apparently he loves them, assuming due to his life in wild), 3 different pellets including Reptomin baby floating food sticks, and I put a baby red minow in there today to test the waters on. For the first few days, as i expected, he refused to eat but now he's eating like crazy.

I have not yet seen him climb UP the platform I made for him yet, I've seen him about half way up. I believe I made the ramp too steep so I will try to level it out a little, and the platform overall is a little too close to the heat source and could afford come down about an inch or so, so I'll get on that tomorrow morning. Anyway, I'm babbling. Here's the set up!

[Swimmy97]

Welcome! Looking pretty good so far. I would leave the platform where it is, raise up the heat lamp so you can fill it up with a bit more water, and maybe trim the ramp a bit. Also, gravel is a huge danger so I would trade that out for sand or large pebbles immediately. You're going to need a tank upgrade eventually, these guys can get big, and with a tank upgrade comes a filter upgrade. Keep that in mind.
As far as feeding, I wouldn't feed too many worms and especially not an abundance of meal worms. Variety is key. I saw where you said you have three kinds of commercial pellets, that's good. Some are better than others. Slowly try introducing veggies, he's still young so he'll probably refuse but they cave eventually. Red Leaf and Green Leaf Lettuce are great. Also, instead of putting in the whole cuttle bone, put a couple bite sized pieces and be sure you take off the hard backing.
About "taming" them, they will grow to trust you eventually but the glass tapping and tv watching will only hinder that. They're the most secure in their tank and too much stress isn't good. Welcome again, there are a bunch of experienced keepers here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

[steve]

I agree with Swimmy. I'd also move the UVB over the basking area. That way the turtle can fully utilize the bulb as they are more likely to bask under there..

[CrushTheTurtle]

Welcome! Looking pretty good so far. I would leave the platform where it is, raise up the heat lamp so you can fill it up with a bit more water, and maybe trim the ramp a bit. Also, gravel is a huge danger so I would trade that out for sand or large pebbles immediately. You're going to need a tank upgrade eventually, these guys can get big, and with a tank upgrade comes a filter upgrade. Keep that in mind.
As far as feeding, I wouldn't feed too many worms and especially not an abundance of meal worms. Variety is key. I saw where you said you have three kinds of commercial pellets, that's good. Some are better than others. Slowly try introducing veggies, he's still young so he'll probably refuse but they cave eventually. Red Leaf and Green Leaf Lettuce are great. Also, instead of putting in the whole cuttle bone, put a couple bite sized pieces and be sure you take off the hard backing.
About "taming" them, they will grow to trust you eventually but the glass tapping and tv watching will only hinder that. They're the most secure in their tank and too much stress isn't good. Welcome again, there are a bunch of experienced keepers here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Hi, thanks for your reply! I never tap on aquarium glass because I know for animals like fish, it's deafening to hear the tap roar through the water but it was a suggestion I was just tossing out there. What I'm personally doing is just shaking the food bottle and getting him used to the noise. I've also heard that the gravel is a danger because they can swallow it and block their intestinal tract. I'll be replacing it soon but right now it should be fine. I made sure not to get small pebbles, these chunks are pretty big in comparison to his mouth so for right now there is no way he will be able to eat them. Also, I am keeping the variety as noted. Some foods have things others dont and it's good to keep them switching around to make sure they get all of their essential Vit. Min. and nutrients. As far as the tank goes, he should be fine for at least the first few months, year at the max which is what I thought about upon purchasing. One thing I didn't know about the tank until after purchase was that one side was cut out about half way for an area to house the filter that came with it so I did cut the platform down about an inch and a half which is still in the dry zone above where the cut out is which is the max water fill line. The temperature is just about perfect, still a little too warm so I'm going to find some way to raise it without having to drill into my walls or anything to hold it up. I appreciate the reply and it appears I am in good company here! I hope to be able to help you some time in the future if you have any questions, but you appear to be far more experienced so for now I guess I will have to look up to you . Cheers!

[CrushTheTurtle]

Welcome! Looking pretty good so far. I would leave the platform where it is, raise up the heat lamp so you can fill it up with a bit more water, and maybe trim the ramp a bit. Also, gravel is a huge danger so I would trade that out for sand or large pebbles immediately. You're going to need a tank upgrade eventually, these guys can get big, and with a tank upgrade comes a filter upgrade. Keep that in mind.
As far as feeding, I wouldn't feed too many worms and especially not an abundance of meal worms. Variety is key. I saw where you said you have three kinds of commercial pellets, that's good. Some are better than others. Slowly try introducing veggies, he's still young so he'll probably refuse but they cave eventually. Red Leaf and Green Leaf Lettuce are great. Also, instead of putting in the whole cuttle bone, put a couple bite sized pieces and be sure you take off the hard backing.
About "taming" them, they will grow to trust you eventually but the glass tapping and tv watching will only hinder that. They're the most secure in their tank and too much stress isn't good. Welcome again, there are a bunch of experienced keepers here so don't be afraid to ask questions.

Hi, thanks for your reply! I never tap on aquarium glass because I know for animals like fish, it's deafening to hear the tap roar through the water but it was a suggestion I was just tossing out there. What I'm personally doing is just shaking the food bottle and getting him used to the noise. I've also heard that the gravel is a danger because they can swallow it and block their intestinal tract. I'll be replacing it soon but right now it should be fine. I made sure not to get small pebbles, these chunks are pretty big in comparison to his mouth so for right now there is no way he will be able to eat them. Also, I am keeping the variety as noted. Some foods have things others dont and it's good to keep them switching around to make sure they get all of their essential Vit. Min. and nutrients. As far as the tank goes, he should be fine for at least the first few months, year at the max which is what I thought about upon purchasing. One thing I didn't know about the tank until after purchase was that one side was cut out about half way for an area to house the filter that came with it so I did cut the platform down about an inch and a half which is still in the dry zone above where the cut out is which is the max water fill line. The temperature is just about perfect, still a little too warm so I'm going to find some way to raise it without having to drill into my walls or anything to hold it up. I appreciate the reply and it appears I am in good company here! I hope to be able to help you some time in the future if you have any questions, but you appear to be far more experienced so for now I guess I will have to look up to you . Cheers!

I'll give it a try! He loves that little rock the UV is currently resting over so I figured I'd at least let him get his UV from there until he's comfortable enough with his new platform for me to move it up there. I'll go ahead and try that now and see if he likes it!

[steve]

Argh, I hate those "Turtle Tanks". It wastes half the tank and costs twice as much.

[CrushTheTurtle]

Same here Steve. I didn't realize it was like that until after I got it, but I figured it would be good for at least a few months, and it came with a few things I needed so I just kept it. The next tank will probably be a 55 gallon so it's time to start saving up!

[Swimmy97]

Yeah my res was in gravel for a long time before I knew it was a no no. Yeah Steve, the turtle products out there generally are subpar at best. Is there something over the grating that makes the ramp?

[Swimmy97]

Same here Steve. I didn't realize it was like that until after I got it, but I figured it would be good for at least a few months, and it came with a few things I needed so I just kept it. The next tank will probably be a 55 gallon so it's time to start saving up!

Just wait for petcos dollar per gallon sale and you can get a 55g cheap and invest in a canister filter, the bigger the better.

[Kansasslider]

Yea those so called turtle tanks are worthless! I bought one in the beginning but took it back asap!!

[CrushTheTurtle]

Yea those so called turtle tanks are worthless! I bought one in the beginning but took it back asap!!

Stop it, you're making me regret it even more haha. And yes to whomever asked the question about the grate ramp. I have a screen mesh wrapped around it and zip-tied on, he has no problem climbing on it.

[Swimmy97]

Awesome. Can't wait to see some more pics of the little guy

[steve]

If you're using a screen mesh, be careful when he gets a little bigger as his nails will get stuck in them. Worst case situations are them being pulled out.

Sorry about the turtle tank, it's still usable for various other types of critters.

[penelope]

Welcome to the forum!
Don't feel bad, I bought a turtle tank at the onset too. Those little turtles pictures on the tank label make it so enticing. I had the same problem with the heat light being too close. I wound up buying a cheap flex neck desk light and put it on a stand next to the tank. Then I just flexed it right over the basking area. Since I had a screen, I wasn't worried about it falling in accidentally. The only pain was having to adjust it every time I took the screen off. Still, it was a cheap quick fix.
Even after ditching the turtle tank, I still used the lamp for for several years on other tanks.

[Kansasslider]

Welcome to the forum!
Don't feel bad, I bought a turtle tank at the onset too. Those little turtles pictures on the tank label make it so enticing. I had the same problem with the heat light being too close. I wound up buying a cheap flex neck desk light and put it on a stand next to the tank. Then I just flexed it right over the basking area. Since I had a screen, I wasn't worried about it falling in accidentally. The only pain was having to adjust it every time I took the screen off. Still, it was a cheap quick fix.
Even after ditching the turtle tank, I still used the lamp for for several years on other tanks.

You changed your avatar. Welcome back.