All Turtles Message Board

therea · Level 3 Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 131 Location: England

After many years of begging my husband has bought me 3 turtles (Bob, Bertie and Babs).
I'm dead pleased, they are all really cute, however Bertie, the smaller of the three is the tamest.
My supplier has been fantastic in helping me, but did not tell me to buy a UVB lamp nor an aquarium heater. I have set up a basking site, but it runs off a 15 whatt bulb, and the turtles don't seem content with this. (They sit there all huddled up beneath it)
Please can anyone help with the following questions:
1) Do I need a stronger whatt bulb?
2) Where would I set up the UVB lamp?
3) Do I desperately need an aquarium heater?

Also I have noticed that Babs' shell flexes slightly around the edges on her back end. Is this the beginning of soft shell or is it normal?
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turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

heaters help maintain a certain temp (78-80), uvb bulb should go over the basking area. ANd a higher wattage bulb will help maintain air temp to 85-90.

therea · Level 3 Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 131 Location: England

Thank you so much! I'll get onto that straight away!
Also, could anyone help me with Bab's flexing shell?
Is this the beginning of soft shell or is it normal?
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turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

What I do to help prevent soft shell is buy a cuttle bone and pull off the hard coating break it in to like bite size pieces. Great source of calcium and about every other water change I drop in a piece of the turtle shaped things. It has calcium sulfate in it. So far no problems. Try that and see if it helps.

therea · Level 3 Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 131 Location: England

I drop in a piece of the turtle shaped things.

What are these turtle shaped things that u speak of?

Rolling Eyes

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turtle_grl77 · Level 4 Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 985 Location: Florida

They are made by like DR turtle. Looks like a white block shaped like a turtle. Break off a leg or arm and drop it in your tank. That is all that is needed.
If you look at ingredients it shows calcium sulfate, it helps turtles when they are sick...not good source of calcium to prevent diseases.

fishandcandy · Level 3 Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 200 Location: Indio, CA

Dr Turtle blocks are pretty much just a waste of money. Spend that money on things that your turtle really needs.

turtbert · Level 3 Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 272

I don't use heaters in my tanks I find that with the central heating and tank lights the waters generally warm enough, I do monitor it and have spare heaters available should be have a really cold spell though Wink

They definately need UVB which you can get as a striplight to fit in the aquarium lid, or to go in a clamp lamp if you don't have a lid.

In my tempory tank I was a bit short of cash and bought some plastic clips (for the striplight) which I've glued onto the top of the tank glass to save buying a lid, so thats another option

jcb3763 · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 12:14 am Post subject:

i am a 1st time owner. i found a turtle in my daughter's yard in florida and brought it home to missouri. i am having trouble with what my turtle eats and the proper setup it needs. i went to the pet store but everything they suggested to feed it hasn't worked. i have tried grass, lettuce, crickets, apples and bananas, nothing is working. any suggestions? please help!!!!!

Captain_Turtle · Level 3 Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 206

Captain_Turtle · Level 3 Joined: 26 Dec 2004 Posts: 206

orville_my_baby_turtle · Level 1 Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 18 Location: New Jersey

JCB what kind of turtle is it? I have a Res and he wasn't eating either so I bought him minnows from the petstore and he ate them.[/quote]

jcb3763 · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:49 pm Post subject:

thank you for the advice, captain turtle. i will try your suggestions.

jcb3763 · Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject:

to orvile my baby turtle- i am not sure what kind of turtle it is. this is my first turtle and i found it. i went and got some sand to try and make it feel more like home, but it is still not eating. i will try some minnows. do you cut them up or anything?

orville_my_baby_turtle · Level 1 Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 18 Location: New Jersey

Well mine is a water turtle, so they just swim in the tank.

turtlegirl13 · Level 1 Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 24

[quote="fishandcandy"]Dr Turtle blocks are pretty much just a waste of money. Spend that money on things that your turtle really needs.[/quote]

no they arnt they save my turtles life... thank you very much
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