Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Hello from Chicagoland.

[VeipaCray]

I'm new to the site and new to turtles. I have two RES hatchlings (unamed at this time), two boston terriers (sammy and butch), a tuxedo cat (phantom), a freshwater tank of cichlids, and a reef tank. Yes my wife and I spend a lot of time at the pet store.

I currently have the two little RES in a decent sized tupperware with a heater, some rocks as a basking platform and a heat lamp. They've been in there for about a day now as I build them a new home out of spare aquarium parts that I have. I am putting together a 20 long tank on my desk to hopefully house them for a few months while we remodel and make room for a much larger home for them. I hope to have the 20 gal complete by the end of tomorrow (well later today as it's 3AM here). I'll post some pics later.

[wiccabrat]

Hi welcome form a fellow Illinois resident. RES are great but make sure you know just how big that last tank needs to be. Think huge........

[VeipaCray]

Thanks and hello. Yeah I'm quite aware of the 10 gal per 1 inch rule. Two RES full grown @ approx 12" = 24" = 240 gal. I wonder how long it takes the turts to get that large.

[wiccabrat]

Well 12" is a maximum size, mine top out at 9" (full grown females) and the boys are smaller (my biggest is 6"). But if you can do a 240 go for it!! They love to swim and enjoy deep water more than alot of other turtles. Be ready to need 2 tanks rather than one though, they may not always get along, I've been lucky but I know some people have problems. It can take years to reach full grown, it depends on their care and diet.