Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Another Newbie!

[MommaMia]

Hi all...my husband is a tech for a cable company and is frequently offered things from his customers (some of them aren't legal , so we won't go into that!)...Sunday, a gentleman offered him a RES and tank set-up. The guy told him he wasn't taking good care of it and was sure he would die...my husband reluctantly took it (and I say reluctantly because we already have our hands FULL...4 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, a 47 gallon fish tank....). The guy said he only changed the tank water 'every couple of months' and he was feeding him some box turtle pellets. That was the extent of his care. No basking light, no vitamin supplements, no other foods....and a tank full of gross water.

Upon the little guys arrival, we immediately cleaned the tank (10 gallon) and set him up a basking area with a lamp and a 75 watt bulb. He was not looking well the first night Much to my surprise when I checked on him the next morning, he was swimming around as happy as could be! he regularly basks when I turn on his light and he has a HARDY appetite (seriously...he's a hog!).

I can't believe I'm even admitting this, but I am IN LOVE with this RES!!! And ya know what? He loves me too Anytime I come near the tank, he swims over to the side to greet me...he will even eat from my hand! He doesn't do this with anyone else in my family

My kids named him Donatello that's ok...not my choice, but they like it! I've done some research on RES and will probably be asking tons of questions. We're planning on getting him a better set up in the next few weeks.

[jenaero]

Good save! A sad case, but at least the 'owner' admitted he wasn't taking care of it and gave it to someone who could.

[Vtolds]

You should start looking into getting at least a 55 gallon tank if you are serious about keeping the RES. They require quite steep setup price, with the new tank and filter along with basking area and UVB, UVA light and water heater you could be looking at almost 300 or more dollars if you do everything right the first time. Be careful not too over feed also. They will beg all day if they think you are going too feed them. Feed no more than a headful a day, you can break that up and feed half in the morning and half at night.

[MommaMia]

You should start looking into getting at least a 55 gallon tank if you are serious about keeping the RES. They require quite steep setup price, with the new tank and filter along with basking area and UVB, UVA light and water heater you could be looking at almost 300 or more dollars if you do everything right the first time. Be careful not too over feed also. They will beg all day if they think you are going too feed them. Feed no more than a headful a day, you can break that up and feed half in the morning and half at night.

After reading some threads on here, I came to the conclusion my turtle is a beggar I will NOT give into to his sweet little gazes after he's already been fed...I will not....

As for his set up, I know it's not ideal. I found a 29 gallon tank & stand on craigslist for $20 that we're going to pick up this weekend...I know eventually it won't be large enough and I'll be keeping my eye out on a good deal for a larger one. Filter-check; heater-check; UVA light-check (my husband has had various aquatic/odd pets over the years, so we have A LOT of leftovers). He's got a nice basking area in his current set-up and he'll have one in the new set-up as well.

Thanks for the welcome and the advice!

[Vtolds]

Are you going to be picking up a UVB light, you checked off UVA but UVB is ultimately the most important one too have.

[MommaMia]

Are you going to be picking up a UVB light, you checked off UVA but UVB is ultimately the most important one too have.

Yep...meant to put that in my post!

[RESnTX]

Welcome, and good luck with your new friend. Post some pics when you get his new setup ready.