All Turtles Message Board

Cyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:28 am Post subject: New Turtle Housing Question...

I picked up a new turtle today. I have a total of 8 now. 2 boys, 2 large female, and 4 juniors. I was playing on housing the 2 male and the 4 junior together...

My question is will the 2 males fight? I have the larger 2 females in a tank of thier own. They are of breeding age and size. But i don't want any breeding. Or will have have to worry about the males hurting the juniors?
_________________

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

You have no guarantees. They may be fine. They may not. Pay attention. Are you prepared to separate them if they get aggressive or violent?

What kind of size do you have for all these turtles?

Cyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:22 am Post subject:

BTW they are all red earred sliders...

My 2 large girls are are 6-7 years old pushing 9-10 inches

I'm not sure on the ages of the males they are 6 inches or less.

My 4 Junior will be hitting a year soon, and the smallest is about 2 1/2 inches the largest is about 3 1/2 inches. Sex unknow... At what age due males start getting there nails? I think they will all be girl though...

I noticed the male I picked up today had a really bad case of algae all over his shell. Plus a piece of rotting shell on his under side that i removed to keep from speading. I'm going to keep him on his own for now. I don't want him to get my other turtles sick. I think I might wait for him to molt a few times before I even think of placing him with the others. The algae was so bad it was even under the thin layer of molting shell. I washed him up pretty well, so i hope he gets better...
_________________

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

What size habitats are they in?

Cyn · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject:

4 juniors and male are in a 45 gl long & tall

2 Big girl are in a 45 gl wide and long\

The new male I have sitting in a 10 gl which I know is small but I can to get some stuff to place in his water to help clean him and and heal his shell. And I have to clean it every other day, so it is easier to keep him in a smaller tank...
_________________

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 200

Seriously? For turtles that size, especially the females, you should probably think about a lot bigger habitats for health and safety and overall quality of life. As it is, please, don't get more turtles unless you can significantly increase their living space.

""How big of an aquarium should I get and how deep should the water be?"

Well, the best way to plan for your turtle's swimming area, is to do some math....

1. A general guideline is to find the adult size of your turtle and multiply the turtle's adult length by 5. That's how long the aquarium will need to be and will give your little friend plenty of room for doing laps.

2. Take their adult length and multiply by 2.5 and that'll be how deep your water should be. This gives them plenty of room to move about freely and get some exercise, as well as allow you to place a basking area half way up and prevent your turtle from trying to escape. They are great climbers!

* These are merely my recommendations on what has worked best for me and other keepers."

For ONE turtle. More = more...

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/housing.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/firstturtleenclosure.htm
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Articles/rubbermaidvsaquarium.htm

Care for your other guy, there are other pages too
http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/medshell.htm

Cyn · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

I've already done all my research and the tank the girls are in is perfect. The tank is more for swimming, eating and basking, my turtle roam outside of their tanks. Unlike some people who think it is okay to keep a turtle in a large tank 24-7. So as far as quality of life goes they are WONDERFUL! My girls even have their own pond (man made 300 gl) that is outside in my back yard which they spend the late spring and summer days. You should know all the facts before you say anything.

The only one who is lacking when it has to do with tanks is the new male. But that is expected until his shell clears up.

And if I want to get more turtles instead of letting people around here think it is okay to just throw a turtle in the closest pound because they don't want to increase their living space. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO!
_________________