First off, before I get to my question, I thought I would introduce myself and share my journey thus far. My name is Joe and I just recently was thrown into this excitng world of turtle keeping. While fishing, my daughters and I found this baby turtle (size of a 1/2 $ coin) struggling to swim along the egde of our local pond. Stupid bluegill were coming up to it and some seemed to be nipping at it, the poor guy. I quickly rescued it out of the pond and thus started this awesome journey.
So at the time, I pretty much knew nothing about turtles. We saved this baby turtle, but quickly realized we had no clue what to do next. We decided to put the guy in a 5 gallon bucket with a little bit of water in it, just enough to cover him, but he could still stand and have his head out if he water. We all quckly got into the car and drove to the local pet shop to get information. At the time, I could only afford a 10 gallon tank, a heat bulb and a basking platform, knowing i had to very quickly get the heater, filter, and uvb bulb.
After getting the turtle settled in to her short term living quarters, I did the responsible thing and consulted the internet to look for turtle enthusiasts and forums to learn everything I could about this little guy. I quickly came to learn that this particuler turtle was a RES. I was a little concerned at first because Shelly (girls named her after the Turtle Tale movie) was not eating one bit. In fact, she didnt eat for almost the first week. Since I didnt have a filter yet, i was switching out the water every couple days (de-chlorinizing it). She was basking ok under the lamp, but I was reading that along with getting used to their new surroundings, especially from wild to captivity, and if they don't get proper UVB rays, that could possibly effect appetite. Since I Still haven't had enough cash (i'm close) to purchase what I need for the uvb bulb, I started thinking, why cant I just build a small tank out of a tupperware bin and allow her to get out in the real sun for 20-30 mins a day to soak up natural rays? The first time I did that, I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but when She was finished soaking up the natural sun rays, I put her back inside the indoor tank and, for the first time since we had her, she destroyed about 5 reptomin baby turtle pellets. I couldn't believe it!! I could have kept feeding her them, but was afraid at the time of any consequences of overfeeding. Everyday after that, she has been eating great. I have added some romaine lettuce and mealworms (1 a week) to the feeding and she chomps away. I have continued to, as much as I can, to get her outside in that makeshift tank to soak up sun rays.
So it has been about a month since I have rescued her and she seems happy as can be. She is a little skittish still when someone enters the room, she will leap off the basking dock into the water and spaz out around the tank for about 10 seconds, and then slowly come back up. I have since got a filter and heater for the 10 gallon tank and completely removed the riverrock I had in the tank (so terribly messy). It is so much nicer and the water is warm and crystal clear. She likes to swim under where the water comes out of the filter and she will get push to the bottom of the tank. Sometimes she will do this repeatedly. It is funny to watch. She is a character.
Sorry for this being so long winded, but I wanted to share my story. Over this past month, I have grown really fond of Shelly, and I can't get enough of reading information about RES and any other species of turtles. The next immediate thing I know I need to get is a clip lamp with the UVB bulb, which brings me to my initial question....
Until and maybe after I already have purchased a uvb light source for my tank, is it ok that I take my turtle outside into the makeshift tank to catch some real natural rays? I wasn't sure if that was necessarily healthy for the turtle or if was bad taking the inside then outside constantly. I do have to say that by doing this that first time and numorous times after, it sure seemed to greatly improve her metabolism and overall healthy look. Just thought I would ask that. When i can, I will post some pictures.
My near future plans is to get a 55 gallon tank and set up a more natural looking habitat for her. Maybe down the road, set something up for my next turtle addition, a musk turtle. I would have to set up an underwater habitat for that guy.
Anyway, it has been a pleasure sharing my on-going story with you all. Thanks for reading and if there are any suggestions to anything I have said or asked, please do so. I am really interested in learning anything I can about these amazingly awesome creatures.
-Joe
