General Care Discussion :: Help needed by newbie

[mystic_2k12]

Hi All!

I am new to this forum. Three days back I got a cute baby turtle as gift. Being a newbie, I have few questions about my turtle. Will be really thankful for all the help.

1) I am not sure about his species and age. My friend who gifted me claimed it to be RES. But I have doubt as the baby turtle do not have the red stripe. I am posting pics as well
2) He is not eating. . I have tried the turtle pellets(contains fish meal, soya), dried blood worms, dried red shrimps and feeder fish. what should I do Is it true that turtle do not for days when his environment is changed?
3) He basks rarely. once or twice in the day
3) What should be the level of water ??

I will be really thankful to all for the help. I am really worried about this cute guy.

Addition Inforation
- Kept him in 20 gallon tank with 2-3 inch of water level. Water temperature ~80 F (using heater). Using Anti-chlorine as water is from municipal coop.
- Made him a basking dock with lamp above. Also kept 3 plastic plants in tank
- keep him in sun light (not in direct sun light but in shade) for 25-30 mins daily in morning as UV lamp for turtle is hard to find in my country but I am still working on that. Here we get plenty sunlight throughout the year. And basking area gets plenty sun light for atleast 3-4 hrs.
- His size is almost 2 inch (length of the shell)
- He is very active in sun but not in water

Please do tell if any more info is required. plz help. Thanks

Pics

[steve]

Hi, you have a hatchling red ear slider (the ears are usually orange, but are sometimes red or yellow).

What are the water temperatures? Is he getting a lot of attention? He might need some more privacy to get used to his new home.

Has he shown any interest in the food and feeder fish?

What's his basking area like? Higher water levels are usually fine, but you can keep it lower during this adjustment period.

[mystic_2k12]

Hi Steve

Thanks for the reply.
Water temperature is ~80 degree Fahrenheit, maintained with help of a heater. During night I switch off the heater. So temperature is between 70-75 F at night.
I check on him around 3-4 times in the day.
No interest in food or in feeder fish yet . Today I tried small bits of green beans and freeze dried bloodworms but he did not eat anything. For feeding I move him in different smaller tub and then leave him with food for 25-30 mins. The feeder fishes are in the main tank. I also tried feeding him in main tank as well.
I have made basking area out of smooth marble stones as it is a temporary setup. Will try to post pics as soon as possible. It is big stone in center with slightly higher than water level and small stones surrounding it making a slope.
I am really worried about he not eating anything . How much time usually it takes for a baby turtles to adapt to a new home?
thanks...

[steve]

You can set the heater to stay on regularly at 78F. Don't bother with a feeding tank, let him get used to his main tank first. Do not handle him excessively at this point. Hold a fish by the tail and let it wiggle in front of his face.

[mystic_2k12]

Thanks

Will try that and let you know. Is it safe to use Anti-Chlorine in his water?

[Into_the_Mystic]

It's not recommended to use any anti-chlorine stuff in the tank. It can interfere with the filtration of the tank.

I use tap water for my turtle and he is fine.

Remember 10 gallons per inch of turtle size.

[mystic_2k12]

@steve : tried to hold the fish in front of his face but did not worked . Instead he got scared and ran to the other en of the tank.

[mystic_2k12]

Also here is a pics of his basking area. I am working on a new one as well. Please help he have still not eaten.

[steve]

Keep trying with the fish. You can also leave a small bit of boiled egg white or boiled white chicken meat for him.

[Into_the_Mystic]

Try a small tiny piece of tuna fish... or boiled chicken.. Just a tiny piece, not a chunk. You might also try soaking a few pieces of pellets in some of the tuna juice and letting it dry out before feeding it to him. I think once he tastes some food, he will remember how good it is.

[josephkr]

Try killing the feeder fish and putting it in his cage. He'll find it hard to resist, and won't get scared by the movement. My turtle also had a hard time catching fish for a while, so I started doing this. The easiest way is if you've bought the fish at the pet store, dump the water out and keep the fish in the bag. Slap the bag on the counter with the fish in it and the fish will be out cold.

[Into_the_Mystic]

Hows the baby? Has he eaten?

[JimmyLo]

MY baby RES didn't eat for a while when we got her. Is your turtle sleeping alot?

Bring up the temp, and the water should be at about half the tank - how big is the tank? I didn't see that.

Chicken is a baby turtle LOVE. Try boiling chicken and serving it with no spices or butter - do nothing but boil until it's nicely cooked.

[mystic_2k12]

Hi
Sorry for late reply.. been bit busy lately and my internet was also not working.
@ Into_the_Mystic : He is fine and eating as well . Thanks

The baby RES is absolutely fine and also eat now. He very active and loves to swim since I have increased the water level (to 6 inches). He loves shrimps and now even eat the feeder fishes. Thanks everyone for your help. Your all suggestions really helped.
Though I still have two concerns

1) He doesn’t like turtle pellets or the turtle sticks. He only eats Shrimps, blood worms and feeder fish (Danio). Dont even touch any veges. What else I can feed him so he gets balanced nutrition?? Cooking chicken etc at home is bit difficult as my family is vegetarian Please suggest

2) He do not bask Temp at basking dock is 90-92 F and water temp is 78-82 F. To check I kept few pieces of shrimps on the dock and he got up on the dock and ate them but no basking. For now I leave him in sunlight daily morning to play for 15-20 mins and his tank is near window so it gets 1-2 hr of unrestricted sunlight from top of tank.

[Into_the_Mystic]

Please try to watch his protein intake... Do not give him shrimp more than maybe once every 3 weeks and the same applies to chicken. He will eat pellets eventually, just try to keep putting 2 in there every day. Also buy some lettuce and a food clip if you can. They can eat a leaf a day. Mine is a year old now, and is just starting to eat carrots. Before it was just lettuce and of course his pellets every other day.

Oh! one more thing.. buy some cuttle bone and cut it into tiny pieces... he needs it for his shell.