General Care Discussion :: HELP! What is my turtle?!?!

[badunkadunk13]

Hi, I'm brand new here as I've only recently aquired my little guy...or, um...gal? About 6 months ago, my husband and stepson were living in a small apartment and one day this little guy showed up on the doorstep in a medium sized "Critter Keeper" with a small mound of gravel, MAYBE 1/2 of water and an orange tree like thing. Being an animal of all kinds lover, when I moved in and did some research, he upgraded to a 10 gallon aquarium with a filter, floating basking rock and a UVA/Heat lamp (we use the Zoo Med blue daylight bulb). I have always been a dog person and own 3...but this little guy, Donatello (I think he is actually a Donna, but don't tell my kids that), I have fallen head over heels for! So much entertainment and so many hours I've spent just watching him move around the tank. But I have a few questions beginning with, WHAT IS HE? I've been caring for him by researching Red Ear Sliders, but have become convinced, he ISN'T on fact a Red Ear. Maybe a Yellow Belly? Whatever he is, can I care for him AS a Red Ear or do I have to do something different? Also, he currently has gravel like an aquarium and most of the "Spongebob" aquarium decorations because my kids like them, as well as a couple of colorful plastic trees...are these OK? He is also currently living with a pleco. fish because he helps keep the tank clean...is this OK to do? So far, those are my questions but I'm sure there are many more to come in time.

Well, I can't upload my pictures because they are too big, so I guess the what is it question has to be saved for later when I can, LOL.

[adbritta]

When he gets bigger, he might try to eat the fish. Also, gravel shouldn't be in with aquatic turtles, because they will eat it and it can severely damage their digestive tract. He also needs a water heater, and he should have a stationary basking platform directly under the heat lamp. He also needs a UVB light source or he could have bone growth issues. I use a mercury vapor bulb. It's a little more expensive but it does UVA/UVB/heat. I'll try to find you the thread about tank set-up. Can you make an account on Photobucket or something to upload the pictures? It's hard to guess what he could be without being able to see him

[adbritta]

If you go back to the main page of the board, have a look inside the Habitat-Indoor forum. There are topics for lighting, water temperature, basking spots, etc, that will help you figure out what you need for his tank. Here's the link in case you need it: http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6

You can also read the information on the main site.
http://www.redearslider.com/index.html

[ljapa]

Look at

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1811

For info on posting pictures hosted elsewhere

[badunkadunk13]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the help and I will definitely check out those sites. Doing an overhaul of the tank tomorrow and taking out all the gravel so he doesn't get injured. I'll also head back to the store (45 minutes away ) and grab one of the mercury vapor bulbs, if they have them.

I've been looking extensively today at turtles trying to figure out what he is exactly and I think I nailed it down. I originally thought he was a Red Ear because he has a very light pink line on both sides of his head, but it wasn't red. I found the Peninsula Cooter and read that they can sometimes have this stripe as well he does the whole balancing on his bottom shell and stretches out all his limbs under the light. I think that's what he is. I'm very excited to have found this forum and will definitely be a regular!

[steve]

Welcome to the site! If you're having trouble uploading images, feel free to email them me and I'll post them.

[sx2r]

Be prepared to upgrade your tank... by a lot. I don't know how big he is, but turtles get big, and need a lot of space. I think people say about 10g to every inch of turtle. I have my two in a 129g tank. If you don't want the bottom of your tank empty looking buy some river rock and wash it up good and use that, I got mine from a hardware store.