Habitat - Indoor :: new to the turtle world and i have a tank setup question.

[WhitM2107]

Okay, i work at a vet clinic that sees exotics and a lady called in and wanted to find somewhere to take an res because it was sick but she didnt wanna take care of it. if she couldnt find someone to take it she was just gonna let him die. i couldnt let that happen so i took him. its not a sure thing that he's gonna make it but i have high hopes. my manager gave me a very decent sized seperated aquarium so i can have a land side and a water side. im not a good builder to say the least and im having difficulties figuring out a good way to set up the land side properly.

anyone have any advice?

[megcornell]

Take a look at the habitat section on the main page. There are photo galleries of tank set ups which are very helpful in setting up your tank.
The common set up on here doesn't really have a "land side". Since RES enjoy swimming so much and require so much water, most people on here use floating or above tank basking areas to maximize the amount of water they can have in the tank. Depending on your new turtle's size, you could buy a simple floating dock or you could make one out of pvc and tile.
How nice of you to rescue him, I hope he makes it!

[WhitM2107]

good, i just bought a floating dock yesterday for him instead because i thought the same thing.

and thanks, i hope he does too. if i could get him to wanna eat. hes swimming around a little more, but still not out of the clear yet.

[megcornell]

Usually new turtles are shy to eat at first. The stress of a new tank will do that to them. Give him some time to adjust to the tank and then worry if he's still not eating after a week or so.
If he's ill with something like an RI that can suppress appetite too, so you may want to have your vet check him out and prescribe antibiotics if needed.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Did the lady give you the food she usually feeds the turtle? My turtle wouldn't eat the first pellets we gave him and then we found different pellets which it would eat. Then we noticed the drastic effect the changing temperature had on him, so we got a tank heater, and as long as we keep the water around 78, he's a good eater. Check the water temperature too.

[marisa]

What kind of health problem does the turtle have?