Urgent Care

Hi i just bought this turtle about a week ago i was told to feed it ONE pellet every other day the paper i got said later on in its life that it could eat a TINy piece of lettuce or carrot or worm well i did the feeding every other day well he WONT touch the pellet for nothing i even dropped it in water right in front of him he refusses to eat it he takes off to other side. So we gave him a TINNNNNY micro piece of lettuce and he chewed it up RIGHT AWAY like if he was a human who was starving the lady i bought him from said he was a baby . Please help he has been on his bridge for a while so she said to put him under a lamp well until i get to store he is under my stove light (i know this might not be good but at least its something until i get to store) . Please i could use all the advice you guys or gals have. Thanks JAm

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:26 pm

wow,whoever gave you that paper gave you some bogus advice,they have to eat atleast 4 pellets everyday if he or she is under 4 inches and they can eat as much lettuce as they want same for carrots and worms are only a rare treat.

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:27 pm

by the way whats your set up like? and i hope you have a water heater because hatchlings can get very very sick without one.

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:30 pm

do alot of research on your little guy,this site is wonderful and has helped alot of people.read the stickys on the forums on lighting.just to tell you be prepared for alot of commitment and money they may cost realy cheap but buying a suitable habitat can cost in the hundreds.plus vets

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:32 pm

It was like a care sheet she gave me . And it said pellet every other day wash bowl out every week (once) ad it has like little bridge ramp thing in middle the water level is just over his shell and suppsoely he is a baby he is no bigger then maybe 3 month old baby's hand (sorry not good on details) woul petco or petsmart have more info on this or book or different food or something . I am so freaking out i am worried she said you cant touch him or the water for six monthes because of oil an germs it could kill him right away . Thank you for reply i am so glad i found this site . Any information yall can share i would love to know his bowl by the way is around nd has three parts to it its hard to detail it but for his size i would think it is big enough but hubby is wanting to get a big thing but not sure what to get thanks again julie

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:37 pm

Does this "bowl" have a palm tree in the middle of it?

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:38 pm

well first thing first you have him in a "death bowl" yeah,the name pretty much says it all..its too small a hatchling of one inch needs a ten gallon tank,2 inch 20 gallon tank and so on and so on.dont listen to the pet shop people most of them dont know what they are talking about,the people on this board know what they are talking about.he needs good filteration and heating as well...i would say go big now and save money,the bigger tank and equipment you get the more you save.30 gallon tanks are awesome started tanks for babys,get a filter rated for twice the size of your tank same goes for the water heater,he needs a spot to completley dry off you can find "turtle dock" at petco its OK,also he needs uvb and uva one for digesting food properly i think and one for heat(normal house bulb)also give him a good amount of water depth most people think just cause theyre so small that they can drown but they love to swim.

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:42 pm

yes its got a palm tree i am online looking for a picture but i dont know much turtle life sites yet

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:44 pm

dumb question when you say hatchling are you refering to it as being baby?

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:44 pm

thats a "deathbowl" you dont need a tank necesarilly,you can get a rubbermaid container(20 gallons or more) for 9 bucks or less!

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:45 pm

yes,hatchlings are babys

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:47 pm

its something like this but with a top and small tree and a ramp and bridge which he stands up on it http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6707

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:48 pm

its wayyyyyyy too small for him.get him atleast a ten gallon enclosure

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:48 pm

just wanted to say thanks xsaviings for helping so much i sure can use it i am so cluesless think petco or petsmart is calling me this weekend lol thanks i am reading evertyhing you are saying . do you know of any good stores online for turtls?

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:49 pm

getting 10 gallon do you feel it up to the top ? would you happen to hve a picture of our turtle tank so i know what you are talking abou t?

Urgent Care :: Can you all help a newbie with red eared slider turtle

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