Habitat - Indoor :: Help? Advice?

[Ingrehd]

Well a few days ago I got a red ear slider at petsmart and since I cannot afford a tank at the moment I have him in a large tupperware storage bin, I'm using a brick as a place for him to bask, and have a bubble blower thing for him. He's always trying to get out and hates it when I pick him up.
Is this all just because he can't see outside and because he's not used to me yet?

[happycamper]

Do you have a water heater? Basking light over the brick? If you're using a brick and it's above the water line, I highly doubt there is enough water in the container. How big is the container?

[Ingrehd]

I do not have a water heater but I have a basking light over the brick. The container is maybe about the size of a small fish tank, its one of those that you use to store things

[happycamper]

How big is the turtle? How many inches of water are in there?

[Ingrehd]

his shell is about 4 1/2 inches long and there is about 2 inches of water

[happycamper]

He needs way way more water, if he flips over in such a small amount of water we will drown

You may need a larger container, but he needs at LEAST 5 inches of water, preferably more like 10-12.

They love to swim! Get a bigger container, more water and a water heater and I think he will be a lot happier

[PoisonOrchid]

Add more water!
That is very little, and sliders love lots of swimming space.
How tall is the storage bin? but yes, add more water.

[happycamper]

Get one of the BIG rubbermade containers...

http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/Page ... D=RP091418

[Ingrehd]

he won't drown if I add more water?
the bin is about 11 inches tall and about 21 1/2 inches long and about 11 1/2 wide.

[happycamper]

And just an FYI...

These turtles are not cheap to take care of. We recently spent $500 on our setup and still have some necessary upgrades to make. They can live for 50 years and get very large! You might want to start a special turtle savings account ASAP lol

[Ingrehd]

haha already did.
He won't drown if I add more water?

[happycamper]

No, they are great swimmers!
And make sure the basking area is easily accessible.

[BiteyBits]

The reason a turtle can drown in lower later levels is they commonly flip themselves onto their backs trying to get up the sides. They use their heads to push up and flip back over- but if the water level is too low and they are on their backs their head can get stuck underwater too long and they can't flip right side up fast enough. So they drown upside down.

You want a high water level so they can just swim around, and not flip over and get stuck. That's why it;s recommended on this site to measure the length of the shell, and have at least twice that in water depth. They swim, they can float at the surface and breath. When i redecorated my tank my turtles slept floating at the surface for a few days before they found their resting areas, and they're about 1 1/2 inch.


Also, if you can't afford a tank look online at craigslist or a freecycle site for a free/super cheap one. Just bring someone with you to look at it/help carry.

I had mine in a plastic bin for a few weeks before I could get a tank.

[papoopeepoo]

They are very talented swimmers. I've seen turtles "turn on dime" when chasing fish..

They just need an easily accessible basking platform with UV light accommodations, and a surface/plant underwater, but near the surface of the water, where the turtle can rest but still be underwater.

[Ingrehd]

thank you very much.
Any other helpful suggestions?