Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Newbie needing advice pls!

[Nisa]

Hi, I was wondering if someone could pls just give me some advice.
I have 2 red eared sliders about 2 or 3 inches. I think its a boy and a girl. They have been busy and eating well and basking well from the start. Nisa is the one i think is a girl and Runner is the one i think is a boy. Since I got them about 2 weeks ago Runner has been chilled and just looking at everything in the tank as if he has been there for ages, and Nisa is the one thats a bit stressed but its getting better. Since last night I noticed that Runner stays on the basking dock even at night when i switch all the lights off. Nisa spends most of her time in the water so i guess its not that. I stay in Dubai and its summer now so its really hot and I dont put the air conditioner on as im scared of RI, so their water averages about 28-30 degrees Celcius. He use to streach his legs out to what looks like tanning, which is too cute, but since this morning I have been watching him and he isnt eating like he has before,Nisa is still eating well. He also doesnt push his legs out like before and would close his eyes. I got worried and thought its swollen eyes but when he thinks im around too much he opens them and goes into the water, but now and then would rub his eyes, they look ok maybe a bit puffy when open. Also its like he has dominated the dock as they have their own spots and Nisa is half in the water but looks happy and Runner is on the dock with legs all pulled in and head out. Is something wrong with him or is he just liking the basking area? when i pick him up he is warm and im scared he is going to cook himself though its not too hot on the basking area as i moved the light further away as its warming up the water even more.
Pls can someone give me advice im so worried he is getting sick,and then Nisa will also get sick.

SORRY ITS SO LONG!

[steve]

It's a bit warm, so he might just be enjoying the heat. What are you feeding them? How warm is the basking area? What are you using for lights? What are you feeding them? Are you treating the water with anything?

[Nisa]

Hi steve, thanks for the reply.
I feed them mainly Sera raffy P, as i read its their staple food and they still small so they get that daily and then i offer them grated carrots, some green beans and sweet potato and then on every second or 3 day i give them a carvivore reptile mix that states it has 2.0% calcium and 0.8% phosphorus, and also i have beaphar turtle vit which i put about 3 drops in their water every day.
I used bottled water for their tank so no i dont treat the water as i was told if i use bottled water i dont have to treat the water.
They have a uva light but its a "sun glo neodymium daylight lamp" which i read is not the right light that they need. I am really struggling to get anything in dubai that i read i need for them. So I would usually wait till I go back to South Africa to get them what they need as the pet shop at home has a large reptile section and products not like here, and its so sad cause there are millions of these little guys in Dubai and not many of the things we need to care for them properly.

[Nisa]

ok i have now even tried putting the veggies and a pellet in some tuna water, and still he didnt eat it like always he just smells the veggies and turns his back on them. Nisa doesnt even bother smelling the veggies. and he took a pellet and just walked around then let it go again.
So I thought ill try making some egg white for him, which didnt work trying to feed him in the separate container i always feed them in but he did eat a bit of egg in their tank so at least he has like maybe a bite or 2 of egg white but thats it.
How do i get them to eat veggies?
And could that be the reason he is so lethargic?
O and i thought maybe he cant smell his food cause of a blocked nose but there is NO bubbles coming from his nose and he would yawn in the water, and did seem to find the egg in the tank too and miss the veggies.

[Kado]

Not sure of the kind of UVB you are using, but puffy and rubbing his eyes could be a sign of this http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor.htm

[Nisa]

Wow thanks Kado that was a great piece of info!
There isnt a uvb lamp right now as im struggling to find one here, I should be going home by the end of the month then I can get one there, as I know they have at that pet shop, all the lamps I need. They only have a uva lamp for now.

[steve]

Hatchlings won't be interested in veggies. And you can probably use the AC as long as they are out of it's direct path.

[Nisa]

I hear you with the fact that hachlings are not interested in veggies but till what size would you regard them as hachlings?

Today I tried to feed them as i always do and Nisa is still eating well and still her normal self which im very happy about and I tried feeding Runner too in the separate container and he didnt eat but when I put him in the tank and offered the pellets he was happily playing with his food takes little bites and then lets it go and swims really fast after it again, I think he is playing more than eating though but i guess its ok? He also seems a bit more active and his eyes are all better so im guessing maybe Nisa scrated him accidentally.

Should I leave the food in the tank and for how long? and should i leave a piece of romaine lettuce in the tank for them to nibble on now and then?
Would they try bite off the shedding skin from their front legs? They both shedding and i assume its cause the water has been so warm.
I Have them against the wall that the ac is in so they not in a direct path, thanks for clarifying that up for me I really appreciate all the help!

[steve]

They are considered hatchlings during their first year. Even after that, RES would rather have pellets, prey and treats but many RES do enjoy their veggies.

If you are feeding separately due to health or safety reasons, try to feed the in the main tank and they will be more comfortable. If there is another turtle, put them into the separate container.

I wouldn't leave pellets in the water too long, but veggies can be left in there for a few hours if necessary.

Some do bite their front legs when shedding, though it seems like a random event.

[michaelg]

My experience with our hatchlings and veggies has been very positive. I've been feeding our hatchlings Veggies since they were about 5 months old. I started them on Romaine Lettuce which they really enjoy. Then I switched to Red Leaf and Green Leaf lettuce. Romaine is still their favorite followed by Red Leaf and Green Leaf. I have also given them Cucumbers and Carrots. I stopped given Cucumbers since there isn't much nutrition there, but they really liked them. They like Carrots too and it's funny to see their beaks stained orange for a day or two after eating carrots.

I just moved them out to the pond where feeding is a little different, but while they were in their aquarium, I gave them pellets everyday and made sure there was a leaf of lettuce in there all the time. Some times they would eat the lettuce quickly, other times not. They seemed to enjoy the sand more than the veggies, but they would eat it.

In the wild they need a lot of protien in their first couple years so they can grow quickly, which is why they don't usually take to veggies when they are young. Once they are older and larger, they rely on the veggies to give them the nutrients they need to keep them healthy. They get their energy from being warm. They do not grow very quickly after their first few years.

-Michael

[Nisa]

Thank you so much Steve and Michael, I actually feel more at ease now, I was rather worried that im really doing something wrong and thats why they dont want their veggies.
I have started to separate only Nisa and feed her and then Runner I try feeding in the tank but today he just left it all again, i think maybe an attempt was made but not sure how successful it was as he didnt seem to want me around today. but I mostly saw the guppies eating the pellets and the lettace is still in the tank.

Is it normal for the 2 to be so different as to basking and swimming? Nisa is mostly swimming and basks now and then and eats well, and Runner basks most of the time and doesnt seem to be eating much, he does become a bit more active at night but would still climb on the dock and sleep there, is that normal?