All Turtles Message Board

stingray · Guest Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

Hello. I just purchased a red ear slider that is 8 inches a couple of days ago. I don't know much about turtles, I did have an Eastern Painted turtle a while ago, that was it. I do know a lot about fish though. Right now the turtle (Uncle Carlos) is currently in a quarentine tank, he seems to be doing fine, he is eating turtle pellets once a day. I will move hime to his permenant home this weekend. His permenant home is going to have a basking spot above the tank like I have seen pictures of. For the part that stays above the tank I am going to use a milk crate. What can I use for a ramp? Can I use pool filter sand for the substrate? And can I keep this turtle with any fish? Thanks

I-LOVE-TURTLES · Level 3 Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 265 Location: My House

Ok for 1... A picture would help... but at ZooMeds there are basking docks. A few Questions... How big is the tank? What kind of pellets are you feeding him? Oh and you don't want to use sand, little rocks, etc... If you HAVE Wink

use rocks then you want to use rock about 2-3 sizes bigger then his head... Is it a boy or girl, for future references...
Any other Questions Privete Message me.
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1 odd RES

stingray · Guest Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

I'm sorry I don't have a picture. I can't get a basking dock because the trtle is to big/heavy. I am feeding him wardleys aquatic turtle pellets along with some vegetables. OK I wont use the sand. It is defianetly a boy. What I am planning to do is one of those over the tank basking spots. Thanks for your reply.

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

actually sand is an excellent substrate, but the filter is the only problem. considering its fine texture it could easily clog it. Tutles live on sand, and they do fine. 2nd, ya you can keep fish with him, but they will get eaten

Fred_and_George · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:36 pm Post subject:

yeah, sand will really clog the filter. what i have tried for my basking area is tank liners for snakes and other reptiles. they are meant for a dry environment, so they would work well in the basking area. as for a ramp, i am having the same difficulty. i do have tip for you though, make sure that your turtle can not go anywhere but his basking area, otherwise you will have falling turtle off the side of your tank. any fish that you keep in the tank with him will be considered food. from the turtles perspective, this is fine, they love fish, and it is actually good to have them in there so they get exercise chasing them around (its also really fun to watch) the only thing is that i would not use really nice or expensive fish, because they WILL be eaten or chewed on. i use feeder guppies or feeder goldfish. they are really cheap, and the male guppies still look pretty. the guppies also have live-births, so you can put some in there and they will keep the population up by breeding. its quite a good system. anyway, i hope this helps
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stingray · Guest Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 4

OK, thanks guys I will not use sand. I've never heard of tank liners, do you have a link to one that you can post? I will pick up some rosy red minnows to go in with the turtle, they are really cheap. Thanks

Fred_and_George · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject:

Heres the link. its callled a cage carpet. if you go to
www.petsmart.com
then click on reptile
then click on substrate, it should take you here (i told you all of that in case the link doesnt work...)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752642&cp=2767037.2769277&fbn=Taxonomy%7CSubstrate&f=Taxonomy%2FPET%2F2769277&fbc=1&parentPage=family&keepsr=1
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I love my turtles! Smile

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

i wanted to get into the breeding of the feeder fish. I have two baby turtles in my 45 gallon tank. I realize it is not big enough for once they get about 4 inches or so, but anyways, the big minnows tormented all my little ones and killed and im down to two. what is the max amount of minnows i should get for my tank? they are only about an inch and a half long, so they probably wont eat em yet, im just curious

starlitskie · Level 1 Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 15

the ramp i got from the pet shop has used little stones and glued them on to the ramp.