All Turtles Message Board

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

hey guys, i'd like to know if this is a good way to take care of our red eared slider. We have 3 of them and this is how we take care of them.

At 10am, i take the turtles, feed them at separate aquariums with dried shrimp which we get at local pet shops. The height of the water is just a bit higher that their shell.

After feeding time, we remove them from the aquariums , then leave them in our balcony, which has a huge open space, and they have a hiding place where they usually go to.

They would just stay there, totally relaxed.

Next feeding would be at around 8 or 9pm, same thing goes, put them in their aquariums, feed them then take them out and let them stay in the balcony.

we have never put them inside an aquarium full of water.

Guys, am i doing anything wrong? and we sometimes give them small cuts of veggies to vary their diet.

thanks guys.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

actually, atleast you know they must eat in water, but during the day it is necessary to keep then in the aquariums. how large are the turtles, and how large are the aquariums. the water should be at about 6 inches or more depending on size, and they will need a basking lamp to replicate the sun.

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

Consider that in the wild, they live in the water and are mostly only out of the water to bask (or lay eggs). They're physically designed for swimming and very capable of it, vs being on land full-time like a Tortoise.

Now this doesn't mean your turtles are in poor health, but depending on how old they are you may be feeding them more than they need to be (but they may be fine depending on how much you're feeding them. They might need a bit more variety in their diet. They ought to have a large swimming area, though.

Where do you turtles sleep, out of curiosity? For instance, my Tucker just sleeps in the water, hanging off a plant.

If your patio is big enough, you could always stick a big kiddie pool or very large rubbermaid out there full of water. Of course you'll end up changing the water regularly and that gets to be a chore, and you can't leave them there overnight... which is why an indoor aquarium (or large rubbermaid, if you can handle the look of it) w/filter and all that is common. If they are getting natural sunlight via being outside, you're okay without an artificial light. In fact it's probably better for them.

Please check out this care sheet, it has a lot of good information on the kinds of habitat and diet a slider needs.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Thanks for you reply guys. Marco and beans have been with us for more than 3 years. Flash is just new to the family. They sleep in the balcony. they spend most of their time there. And he only time their in the water, is when it's feeding time.

Thats the way they have been raised, and their doing great. marco was bigger than beans, when we got them but now, beans is a couple inches bigger then marco. marco's around 6 inches.(but i think he's bigger than that.)

yup they get natural sunlight.

i'm planning to make use of the bathtub that no one ever uses. and stick that tub in the balcony.ehehhe.

i'll be posting their pics soon. and thanks for your help guys. Very much appreciated.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

balconies are good areas for naturaul sunlight, what do you feed them?

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

yup, the balcony has always been their home.

dad's been feeding them dried shrimp, one's sold in local pet shops. i sometimes throw in fresh veggies.

btw, what kind of fish do they eat?? i might start building the bathtub as their pool. and might add a few fishes for them to feed on.

and they usually stack up on one another. It's like marco bask's on top of beans, and the other way around. even flash.

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

If it's in the tank they'll eat it. Ha. I get feeder goldfish that are small and whatnot.

Where are you located again? It must not be cold in the winter there.

I'm definitely big on taking care of the turtle vs doing what's convienent to the owner, but if your guys are HEALTHY and doing well, then you're probably doing alright. A big bathtub would be killer. Def. interested in pics!

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

I'm from Brunei, a small country in S East Asia.

There's just 2 seasons here, rain and shine..hahahah.

I'm kinda thinking twice if i wanna put them in the tub and add a few rocks for their basking area.

It's going to be a huge change in their lifestyle, and i don't want to ruin it. i think they are already enjoying the way they crawl around the balcony, hiding in their usual corner.

And when i got home today, i took them to the tub, filled it with water. Added the turtles, i could sense they don't like it. Marco and beans would be swimming to the surface just seconds after i put them in.

I'll still post their pics when i get a good camera. I might post them inside the tub.

btw, is it normal that they try to stack up on one another? i'll also post a pic of them in that position.

thanks again guys.

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

They will adapt. Any change to their routine will freak 'em out. It's probably fine to let them run around the patio part of the day. But throw some rocks in so they can climb out of the water and bask, give 'em some swimming, they'll be good.

Stacking is normal, turtles will even do it in the wild. Good luck.

skslover · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject:

OK you need to have them in the water most of the time and let them baskbout 30mins and if they are babys (small) get them baby food at pet store and if adults adult food cus it has the necessary nutrients and its good you feed them by hand and since they dont bite they are well bonded to you like my four turtles are ^_^
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I miss my turtles spikeI and Buffy.I am glad to have Killer SpikeII and Sarih and Tiger.Luv the barn cats Pirrate Bindi Tigger Comet Poppy Onyx Snowball and Boo. Luv the dogs Baker Nike AlleyMay Bruno Boox2, and Shyshy. Luv the horses but mainly Shadow.

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Thanks guys, i filled the tub and let them swim for 30 minutes.I added an unused flower pot, for their basking area.

They seem to like the water. They swim back and forth, come to the surface to breath. then back again.

I put them in the water an hour before feeding time.

I'll post the pics soon.

thanks guys.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

in stead of putting them in the water for periods of time, you should leave them in it, and take them out 2 or 3 times a day. they naturally are semi aquatic and they can sleep in the water too

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

The thing is wont a drastic change in lifestyle hurt them??

They have been raised this way for more than 3 years now.

thanks guys.

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Hey guys..these are my turtles.

Thats Marco, Beans and Flash at the tub.

Marco and Beans Hanging around the balcony

Marco

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

Nice pics, they look very healthy, and big. Very Happy

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Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Thanks for the compliments sir.

Jdude101 · Level 3 Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 191 Location: Georgia

they do look nice, i dont have adult turtles to know what they should look like, but im pretty sure yours look good. did they sleep on the balcony when it was cold?

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

It's never cold in my part of the earth.

I think we made a mistake in naming them marco and beans, co z i just read that female's have short claws and males have longer ones.

Flash has long claws. So i presume he's male.

Marco and beans have short claws. Think their female??

Teardrop_089 · Level 1 Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

They look pretty big, I hope mine gets to be that big haha. And that I'll be able to take care of him if he does, 'cause I have 3 cats and a dog in my house too! Rolling Eyes

Does anyone know the average lifespan of a RES kept as a pet?

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Thanks teardrop...

A couple months ago, beans, gave birth...too bad no one was home. and she crushed most of the eggs. we managed to save one. but nothing happened.

we just bought this huge plastic pool for them..and their loving them.

Teardrop_089 · Level 1 Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

I wish I could do something like that, have a pool for my turtle to chill out in, but if he goes outside the cats will get him or jump in the pool with him. If I put him in any room besides mine the dog'll be after him so I have to keep him in my tiny room & hope for the best. You sound like a very attentive owner, not many ppl would go to the trouble you seem to be going to in order to ensure that their turtles are happy & healthy!!

Rjay45 · Level 1 Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Brunei

Thanks bro.

You could put them in the tub if you want. as of now my dad takes care of them. They belong to him actually. you could put them in a small area, let them bask in the sun.

put them in water for a few hours, let them swim around..eheheh...

where you from?? how old are you turtles.

Teardrop_089 · Level 1 Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

My mom would probably kill me if I put mine in the tub... she'd say it's not sanitary. And to be honest I really don't want to bathe in the same place my turtle does, hahaha

I'm from North Carolina... I just got my turtle last week when I went down to the beach. The people at the store said he was just a couple weeks old. His name is Rocky... if I had a decent camera I'd put some pics up but my camera broke at the beach and the one on my phone sucks. Confused