All Turtles Message Board

NIKITA · Guest Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Mumbai, India

Hi,
My nephew and niece were gifted an RES by a friend about a month ago.
Its really tiny, hardly an inch and a half in length. I have been keeping it for them for about a fortnight now as they are vacationing.

They don't seem to know much about keeping turtles and are unsure about whether they will be keeping the RES for a long time. ( they might return it to a pet shop soon as they are not quite sure they are equipped to look after it.So can't massively upgrade the tank without making a final decision.)

But its easy to get attached to the little darling.So I want to know if I can improve the set up a little bit so that the turtle is a wee bit happier. So here's the set up.
Its a plastic rectangular box 12 cm in bredth, 22 cm in length and 10 cm in height. I had been instructed to put water just about 4mm deep in it ( coz my nephew was afraid it would drown im more water. Please excuse my ignorance of basking areas and the like. I hope I can make it up to the poor guy. I empty out that water and clean the "tank" everyday.

So here are the questions
1. How much water can I actually put in the tank. Even with just so much water his head just about sticks out of the water. Just wanted to know how he would breathe while sleeping,if I put more water in it. Should I just increase the water at one go or gradually coz the water right now is terrible low for its needs.

2. Will putting a couple of rocks in the box suffice as a basking area.

3. I live in Mumbai. The temperatures here are just perfect for the turtle. And it is unbelievably sunny everyday too. Should I put the tank by the window sill?How can I get enough solar exposure for the turtle ? Can I put him in direct sun. If yes then for how long.

I would appreciate any help on this matter. The turtle is an absolute darling and I would love to make sure that he is happy.

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

Ok you can start off by using a 10 gal tank, filter, basking dock ( you can buy one at the pet store)Heater, thermometer. Fill the tank about 1/2 since he is still tiny. Feed him turtle pellets to start everyday.

NIKITA · Guest Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Mumbai, India

okay, I tried increasing the water...but he din't take to it too well....just sank right in like a stone and then started flapping wildly. Can someone please tell me...whether I should increase the water all at once or gradually.

NIKITA · Guest Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Mumbai, India

okay, I tried increasing the water...but he din't take to it too well....just sank right in like a stone and then started flapping wildly.I got scared and took it out. Currently the water was just as shallow enough for him to dip his legs in it. Can someone please tell me...whether I should increase the water all at once or gradually.

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

Increase the water gradually.