Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: New RES Mommy :)

[MJsMommyArcher27]

Hello all! My name is Jennifer and I recently adopted a Red Eared Slider from a friend whose husband was about to take this little hatchling to a local park pond. I have always been a huge animal lover and I decided to adopt this little turtle. I did some research about what to do and what I'll need to have. But I really honestly feel a little overwhelmed because I've never had a turtle before. I just feel extremely inexperienced. So any tip or tricks or useful info would be awesome! So I got the RES yesterday. His/her shell and living area was covered in algea and I dont think that they ever cleaned this little one very well or the very small pond thing that they gave me along with pellets, shrimp, and a dissolving calcium tablet thats been broken into pieces. I researched how to wash a turtle and I got out a clean soft toothbrush and a bunch of lukewarm distilled water and got all or at least a bunch of the algae off of the shell. This little one looks like a completely different turtle now and seems much happier in a nice clean environment. I still have yet to make a permanent set up for my new turtle so he/she is still in that dinky little pond thing just for now. I haven't measured my turtle yet but I'm pretty sure that the length of the shell is maybe at most 2" long. From what my friend told me she bought him in SC July 2013 and the person who sold to her said that he was 3 months old. So by my calculations this little RES is just over a year old. But it's so tiny! I've read about how its illegal to sell a turtle under 4", and this little guy is DEFINITELY under 4". I know that there was no heat lamp or proper space for this RES. So I'm going to get all of the basic needs to be healthy until I can really throw some money into a big project for a permanent habitat. Anyways I feel like I'm rambling on now, but I just wanted to introduce myself and my new addition to my family. Also I'm not sure if this little one is old enough to determine gender yet. My friend kept calling this RES a "him". I let my son pick out the names- Nemo for a male, Dory for a female. I'm glad I get to be apart of this forum and I hope to become much more knowledgeable about my new RES. Thanks!

[steve]

Welcome to the forum! I'd wait until you can sex Nemo/Dory (really, "Crush" isn't on the table?), and you can go straight to the permanent tank. Usually around 3 or 4" you can see some male characteristics develop. How big is the current container? I'd skip the calcium tablet as well.

[MJsMommyArcher27]

Haha! No Crush isn't on the table. Mostly because when I think of crush it reminds me of why I adopted this RES- the same day my friend needed to rehome this turtle I saw a hatchling in a parking lot who had been crushed. :'( it broke my heart and as soon as my friend said they needed the turtle gone I just couldn't imagine something so awful happening to this little one. So now I have taken it upon myself to fulfill some gigantic responsibilities. Honestly the thing he's in now is just a holding pond. I feel terrible that I don't have a set up yet. I need to gather my funds and do some thrifty work. I'm pretty handy with tools and making things so the cheaper the better and I can make anything if I put my mind to it. Plus my Dad is a Marine Engineer on a tugboat so if I can't do it- I can always count on him for help. I do have a 4 year old son and we live with my mom and dad and my parents 8 dogs (5 lb Papillions), a cat, and a parrot. But anyways I'm going to try to post a photo of what the little pond thing looks like. And I hate it. I'm trying to figure out something that I can make do for a home until I gather my funds for the setup I have in mind.

[MJsMommyArcher27]

[steve]

Yeah, those things are called death bowls for lack of a more accurate description. You can always use a plastic storage container. People also use stock tanks and preformed ponds when they don't want aquariums.

[MJsMommyArcher27]

I think I have a 10 gallon tank hidden away in my garage and possibly a 29 gallon as well. I've been checking Craigslist and found a great price on a 120 gallon plus extras. But it would be a while til I could afford it. I mean a 10 gallon tank (for now) would work, right? I just want this little one to have some space to swim and soak and bask as well. I've been cleaning out the"death trap" every other day because of food and waste. Any recommendations on how to feed in a tank or out of a tank? Any certain products you would recommend? Also for heating in the tank and for the basking light what would I need? Or should I look on another posting section? Thanks!

[steve]

Its hard to find a good deal on a 100+ gallon tank on Craigslist but you can usually sell aquariums for the price you paid on Craigslist. By all means jump on it if you come across one.

10 gallons is already too small, the 29 gallon would be pretty ideal. I'd just feed in tank for now and let him adjust. As for his equipment, the basking/UVB lamps can be moved to the larger aquarium. The heater and filter will be too underpowered for a large tank.

[MJsMommyArcher27]

Ok... I'll search for the 29 gallon and clean it up. And get the water heater set up in it. I do plan on doing some stuff with a kiddie pool for this summer to get the little one outside some... I have an above ground pool with chlorine and what not, would I be able to take my turtle in with me? I figure 20,000 gallons would be a lot of fun.. the pool temp is at 85°F. I just didn't know if that would be bad for the little guy...

[steve]

Well, it's your choice. Chlorine could irritate the turtle a little (many of us use carbon in our filters to remove it) and it's possible salmonella could be released into the water from the turtle.

[MJsMommyArcher27]

Ok. I'll check the levels first and if the chlorine is low enough I'll let him have a blast with all the space to swim around in. yea the salmonella is always a worry, so I dont know. I guess I'll have to wait and see. Thanks so much Steve! I'll post photos of what the habitat looks like once I get it put together with all of the right pieces.

[Kansasslider]

Don't worry about sel it does happen usually to young children. Look it up. It does happen but me and my 4 kids say no! Wash hands after handling is my habit. They are so much fun and enjoyment but I was all ways strange. Enjoy! They are fun I should know 4 turts 3 different speicies.No Sel.