General Care Discussion :: I have 2 new baby RES and I dont have a clue about care!!!!

[Madeleine]

We went to FL for a weekend and some guy was selling 2 turtles a lagoon shallow pond thing, with food, gravel, and a floating turtle for them to climb on for $20.
So, of course my 6 yr old wanted these tiny babies.

Now, reading everything I have read here....I know the gravel needs to go....and I already rescued one from being stuck under the plastic turtle, so that is gone.

I do have a 10 gallon tank with a weird fish in it ....think its supposed to eat aglea but doesnt.

Can I put these little one (they are about 2") safely in this 10 gal tank? The little rocks that are in it now had snail eggs or lava in it..and I have a million snails..should I get ride of those?

What should I get for them? Money is an issue right now...I can upgrade to better stuff later...but what do I need for now to make them safe and happy?

I love the idea that if they are in the tank they wont be touched so much and can be freeier.

I am setting up a major 4 pond black plastic pond set up in the yard....would they be better off outside?

I just am sooo clueless.

[jenaero]

For starters, go ahead and put them in the 10gal just so they're not stuck in that deathbowl. Clean it first, get rid of the gravel and you'll have to set something up so the turts can get out of the water and dry off. You can pick up a turtle dock at almost any petsore. You'll also need a heat lamp and a uvb lamp. Look thru the basic care info here on the site and if there's something you can't find, just ask Good luck with your new pets.

[marisa]

Welcome. What's a four pond black plastic pond? Since they're small, just putting them outside isn't a good idea (you can bring them outside when it's warm for direct sunlight, but supervise them). If you want to give them more room, you could get a Rubbermaid storage container for them. If the rocks are really little (as in small pebbles/gravel), take them out. Any rocks you use should be larger than their heads so they're not tempted to eat them.

As was suggested, do some reading on this site about the care they need. Let us know how they're doing.

[Madeleine]

ok...The found pond plastic pond is 4 ponds made of black plastic that flow into each other. THe biggest pond is about 1500 gallons. I was thinking there, maybe when they are bigger.

I went to the store and got the floating dock. And I cleaned the tank out....put the snails in the outside ponds. Kept the fish cause they are getting along.
I used black smooth big stones for the bottom and there are live plants in the tank (they seem to like to eat on them) and I got a lite bulb for the tank.

I know my daughter and her friend dont touch them now..thats a good thing.

And I was able to come here tonight and get GREAT advise about my one turtles eyes....they said vit A oil for him...so I will go and get some tonight.

THANK YOU ALL!!

[steve]

Swollen eyes are not necessarily an indication of a Vitamin A deficiency. It could be a symptom of another illness, an injury or habitat conditions. What are your water temps and are you using a water heater and filter?

[marisa]

One turtle has swollen eyes? Are they totally closed? Were they like this when you got him? Is he showing any other symptoms--wheezing, open-mouth breathing when out of the water, frequent basking, lack of appetite, lethargy, for example?

What temps are you keeping the water and basking area at?