Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: First-timer with RES

[eleraine]

Well, I had a water turtle before but my dad left the tank cover open and it sort of ran/crawl away. T.T

Anyway, I bought this little fella about three weeks ago and (don't die of shock) he's my office companion. I've got him in a medium sized tank but plan to bring him home with me once he gets bigger.

His name is Tortue (French for turtle) but sometimes for the heck of it, I call him Torture because that's what he's been doing to me of lately.

When I first got him on July 14


In the water...


The tank set-up (w/o the plant)


The tank set-up (with the plant)


Catching him during his basking session - he's still quite shy around me (sorry, camera phone quality ain't so good)


And yes, I'm from M'sia. ^.^

[missibsu]

Welcome to the forum. Be sure to read through the main site. Your set up is inadequate for the type of turtle you have. Be sure to check tank size requirements as well as lighting requirements.

[cprcheetah]

Welcome! Tortue is quite cute! Go through and read the main site and all the stickies on turtle care! Tortue needs a much bigger tank, (10 gallons per inch) more water in his tank (turtles LOVE to swim), filter, heater, another light, just some of the basics. But he is quite a cute little fella! I'm new too...and boy am I learning a bunch!

[sonyj]

Welcome to the forum.

[eleraine]

Tank size-wise, that I know. I live in the tropics so in terms of heat, no heater please (he'll be cooked!). It's sunny all year long so I just sun him outside for UVB.

But yeah, will do, will do.

[cprcheetah]

Do you have a thermometer on his tank so you know what his water temperature is? The water temperature needs to be 72-75 with the basking spot at least 10 degrees hotter. If it stays consistent and up where it should be...because of the tropical heat you may not need a heater...but I would check your temperatures. Okay just read on the main page that if he has several hours outside in the sun may not need the UVB Light. Just make sure that he has shade so he doesn't get hyperthermic.

[missibsu]

I would add to that...smaller containers heat up faster than larger ones. That is something else to keep in mind.

[steve]

Hello, a submersible water heater has a built-in thermostat to prevent overheating. If you are in an office that has air conditioning, then I would strongly consider purchasing one. He's a very sweet turtle, but he may need more privacy to adjust to his environment and I don't know if you can provide him that in an open office.