Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:38 pm
For starters, there are two lights that you need, not three. You need a UVA light, which is just a regular household bulb (60 or 100 watt), and it is to provide heat. Second off, you need a UVB light, 5-10% is good. Like mentioned, it can't be seperated from the basking area by screen or glass because it will filter the UVB rays.
Next you need a basking area. Some place that your turt can come completely out of the water. Most people have zoo med basking docks, or you can build your own using ideas from the photo gallery.
A water heater is recommended if there is any fluxuation of water temp. You water temp should be around 78 for a hatchling and 75 for a turt over one year old. Whatever you do, remove them from the window area...you can fry your turtle that way. Especially if you don't have much water in your tank.
Remember, no pebbles, your turt will eat them. Bigger river rocks are recommended. You mentioned a 10 gallon tank, and I know from experience that you are going to want to upgrade soon. The biggest you can get, the better (It will save on expensive upgrades each inch he grows). The rule of thumb is 10 gallons per inch of shell, and that is straight length, not the curve.
You will need a good filter. One that is rated 3 x's the size of the tank. And before purchasing one, think about your nearest upgrade. Turtles are messy, you are going to want one. Cleaning the tank every other day isn't going to be any fun.
There is a recommended food list on the feeding and nutrition topic. Read through that and pick some greens to get started with. Or carrots, mine love those sliced up. There are pellets made specifically for turts, available in many brands. You should feed the amount that would fit in the head, once a day for the first 8 months to year, and then once every other day. Keep fresh veggies available for the turt to eat at other time. He will be a healthy begger in no time, lol. Keep in mind that a turt who is just adjust to a new environment will need a couple of days to adjust and may not eat.
Be sure to read through the main site...it has a lot of benefical information, more than I can tell you right now on this forum. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Ok i am new to this and i asked the lady i got these turles from all about them sad normal tap water would work dident tell me how my tank should be set up or how to heat the things i need help. i bought 2 red ear sliders, and i woke up this morning and one was sadly dead and i want to save the other one but i need help on a good tank set up for him
