General Care Discussion :: Hey everyone, Need a lil help please, I'm a Newby!*edited*

[Twoster]

hello everyone,
i've read these forums for a minute now and i learn something new all the time.
so thank you all.


i had a question of my own.
i have a young turt, about a 1-inch long carapace (i was told it was a red ear slider, but the spots near his eyes and ears, that is supposed to be red, is a yellowish color, and has a real faint reddish-orange in there too, but basically, its not as a vibrant red as others i have seen. his belly is yellow and he has small dark markings on his belly, real similar to RES, so i know hes not a YBS, since its belly is not solid yellow..correct?..i can take pics if needed, can anyone confirm this species without a pic? im 70% sure its a RES)


but anyways,
my original question was;

my turtle eats regularly, is very active and no visual signs of sickness or being uncomfortable, and he has the proper habitat, but he only seems to be interested in feeder fish! i always offer the repto turtle pellets, and some other commercial pellets i have, but i have not seen him eat them, or act interested in them. im sure this is okay, but i would like for him to eat the pellets since they are nutrional and would be easier on my pocket, as opposed to spending a dollar every other day on feeders (plus the drive to the pet store). im debating on trying to feed him outside of the tank with strictly pellets, but i want him to feel comfortable around me and i want to stress him as lease as possible. im sure hes okay cause i see him eating on a normal basis..but what can i do to help him get used to eating pellets? will he ever eat pellets?
i still plan to add things to his proper diet as he grows, but i was hoping he can get used to me feeding him the pellets when i must.



and one more thing, i know that turtles are usually shy for a bit when first arriving in their new habitat, but i also dont see my turtle (Koopa is his name, forgot to mention it earlier [and im not even sure if he is a male, but i cant really determine that right now, haha]) ...anyways i dont see him bask. i always see him in the water near the basking rock and light, but he doesnt actually come all the way out and dry himself. should i provide a basking area where he cannot get wet for a set amount time per day? i know i cant let him bake in the sun without water or shade, but how (or should) i provide a normal amount of sun (or basking bulbs and UVB bulbs) and basking so his shell remains in good health?

sorry this is so long and un-organized, but its basically 3 questions.

any information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
twoster

[jenaero]

Sounds like a res to me. The 'ears' can be anything from yellow to red.

I think you should take out the feeder fish so he doesn't have them to focus on, then start offering pellets.

He could be basking while you're not around. A lot of turtles, especially babies are shy that way. Another reason could be that the basking spot isn't warm enough. What are the basking and water temps?

[Twoster]

hey,
and thanks for the quick response=)

yea im rather certain it is a RES, ill let you all know if i find out other-wise!


and yes, that sounds like a good idea,
i also read about the tuna juice method, so ill lay off the feeders, and always offer the pellets (with tuna juice) for a while and see how it goes.


would you recommend feeding him in a seperate area so he cant miss the pellets? i heard they cant eat without water, but sometimes the pellets float away and often end up in the filter. and i also have anacharis in the tank with Koopa so that could even add to the destraction from the pellets.



the water temp. is around 76-77( i hear that younger turts may require slight warmer water temps), and his basking spot is around 88-90. (using a non-digital thermometer)


thanks again for the help/advice

and any more would be appreciated.

thanks again,
twoster

[DavidY]

That sounds like you've got a nice setup for your turtle. You must have done your homework well! You could try upping the water temp just a little so it's closer to 78 degrees but it's probably not that big a deal, unless he stops eating completely. Leave the anacharis in since it helps keep the water clean and is good for him if he eats it. Feeding in a separate container can help keep the water cleaner too, make sure it is in water though.

[Twoster]

yes, and thanks! im always trying to make it better! and alright, i shall raise the temp a lil, i know the temp for hatchlings less than a year old is 78 degrees F, i just had it a lil lower so he will want to get out (of the water) and bask. but it all takes time, and thanks everyone for the tips and advice!..hopefully he'll learn to love pellets and bask without a care, ill keep you all updated

[Twoster]

i saw koopa eating some pellets today!..hes also getting a lot more comfortable in his new home..i placed some anacharis and some pellets on his basking area and i see him up there more often, but i never see him chill for a good while and [----] his legs out, and completely dry off..but hopefully soon enough, he'll feel safe enough to come out and bask..here are some pics..can anyone tell me 100% sure answer to Koopas species?



bottom side..not as many markings, but they look just like RES'




chillin near, but not on




" "



hes towards the bottom-leftish



his crib

i have UVB also..the 5.0 joint..but no clamp..it chills on my screen..it will be upraged soon tho..

[RunninWideOpen]

setup looks great!! definitely looks like an RES to me. Koopa sure is a cute little fella.

There are a lot of rocks in the bottom. Eventually Koopa will get big enough that he could eat those pretty easy, you'll definitely want to take them out then. Until then, the only problem that they'll cause is making the tank harder to clean.

Do you have both a heat bulb and a UVB bulb? Both are needed for these little guys.

[Twoster]

thank you..and yes, the rocks are rather small..i wish i could take them back for a refund or trade for the larger rocks..but oh well..he should be good with them for atleast another 3 or 4 months..ill keep an eye out if i see him TOO interested with the rocks..and yes i have a UVB..the reptisun 5.0, but i do not have a clamp on my other lamp..it just sits on the screen, and i plan on upgrading the lamp ASAP.. thanks again

[Ferd]

You need to raise the basking area up a wee bit. it looks like the greater half of it is wet. if your turtle cant FULLY dry off, it will get Shell Rot. Also, you should loose the gravel. MAybe raise the water level up a bit but other than that, it looks great!

[Twoster]

yea, it was wet in that picture because i took Koopa out for a second and the water level raised up a lil bit..but i re-arranged his basking area..hopefully he will make use of it..the gravel is going to be gone as soon as i can afford bigger river rocks..sorry, i went bare bottom before, its just not for me..i dont mind the extra work, it looks better, provides substrate for my plants, and Koopa doesnt mind, the rocks i currently have are not small enough for him to eat, but they do need to be upgraded as Koopa will probably grow quickly..and thanks for the comment!

Koopa is eating pellets on a normal basis now!
so i was stoked about that..

but hes still not coming all the way out of the water to completley dry off and bask..just too skiddish..
and i take him outside for a like 20 minutes to dry off, but when we get back inside, he acts really sketch, and scared almost. but im hoping he can just get used to me, and see that im not going to hurt him!

[RunninWideOpen]

Yup, he'll get used to you! Just be patient. Could take a year or two even.

Is the tank in a high traffic area of the house? That could cause him to be more hesitant to bask. He could be getting all the way out of the water when no one's home also.

It may be better not to take him outside right now, until he gets used to you. The less handling, the sooner he'll get comfortable with you. I've found the best way to get them used to you is to feed them by hand. All 4 of mine have come around really fast by doing that.

[Twoster]

yea runnin, i was thinking the same thing, about handling him lease as possible, i just want him to be healthy ya know.. but im going to let him be for atleast another week or 2..til i do a water change..

and when you say "feed them by hand" you mean..waiting until the turt sees your hand with food in it, and drop it close to his face?...this is pretty much how i got him to start eating pellets..i would let him see my finger and the pellet ( but i also had some assistance from tuna juice!) and place it in the water and luckily he would chase it down and munch up.. and he'll come back up as soon as hes done with one pellet , as if he were saying "gimme some mo!"


the tank is my room..and im not there between 10 and 4, after that i still dont move much..usually chillin at the desk, on the couch, or laying down.
so i really hope hes coming out when hes alone.


how long will it take for RES' that do not dry their shells completley, to get shell rot or shell malfunctions or diseases?

[RunninWideOpen]

hey, actually by feeding by hand I meant let the little guy actually take the food from your fingers. I do it with all 4 of mine, it's great!

sounds like he's got plenty of opportunity to bask. He most likely is basking while your not there, so you just don't know it. They're very good at noticing if anyone is around or not, and unless they are REALLY comfortable, they won't get completely out of the water if someone's around.

I'm not sure how long it would take for shell rot to develop, but I wouldn't be too worried about it over just a matter of a few days or a week. especially cuz i really think your guy is just basking when your not around.

[Twoster]

hey everyone,
and thanks again for the comments, help, and advice!

good news!

Koopa is basking away right now as im typing!..

i went out to skate for a like an hour and i walked in on him with his head high up and all 4 legs cocked out!..its a great sight!..haha

also, he is acting a WHOLE lot more comfortable around us..
i did the hand feeding technique (the pellets are small, so i was hoping he wouldnt chomp down on my finger!..and Runnin; how big are your turts?)
and now he knows every morning when i come around his tank to turn his lights on, that its feeding time!

i also got rid of the rocks,
(i bought them from petsmart, and on the bag it said something along the lines of;

if you arent satisfied with this product, return it to your place of purchase..

cant quote exactly what it said because i tossed the bag away.. but i was wondering if any of you would know if they would let me exchange my smaller rocks for bigger ones?..if i told them that my turt was eating them, they were too small, or something along those lines, do you think they would feel my story and let me exchange?..

[xsavingsaturdayx]

You dont realy need any rocks. A few river rocks are fine, and they are cheap (dollar store has them) dont overdo it and cover the whole bottom with rocks, though.

I'm glad your turtle is basking and getting used to you! Hand feeding is always fun..but not for long,