General Care Discussion :: Need some advice for new RES.

[redneckturtle]

Hi all,

I'm not new to this website, but I'm new to these forums. I have owned a female RES for quite a while, shes about 5-6" in length now. I have just aquired a little hatchling about the size of a half dollar (thats a hatchling right?). Its a small little guy. How will these turtles react together? I own a 10 gallon tank that my larger female has been in. I also own two smaller carrying cases (one with the little guy in it). The turtles are seperated right now, because of the large size difference. At one point they were both in the same tank while I 'monitored' the situation. They just kind of looked at each other, the hatchling a bit scared. Is a big tank OK for such a small turtle, and should these guys stay seperate for a while? Any advice that has to do with hatchling turtles is greatly apprectiated as well. This site has been a great source of information so far.

Thanks for any help.

[missibsu]

First off, a ten gallon tank is sorely inadequate for your 5 inch turtle. Rule of thumb is 10 gallons per inch.

Second, anytime a new turtle is introduced it should be quarantined for at least 90 days. This is to protect the health and well being of an established tank.

Also, turtles kept in the same habitat should be close in size. Placing a hatchling in that environment is a risk. The larger turt could unknowingly harm the hatchingling, or worse cause it's death.

Be sure to read through the main site and check some of the basic information listed in the stickys in each category. There is a lot of information to catch up on.

[marisa]

They really should be kept apart until the smaller one is closer to the larger one in size. And when they are put together, the tank should be big enough for the two of them.

[redneckturtle]

Thanks for the info.

Yea the 10 gallon tank I have is a temp substitue until my 45 gallon gets resealed (should have mentioned that).

The 10 gallon will be for the little guy when I get the big tank back.

[reptilegrrl]

Even for your little turtle, 10 gallons will soon be too small- and a 45 gallon tank is already too small for your larger turtle. Your larger turtle needs a larger home right away, and then you can move your new turtle into the 45 gallon.

[missibsu]

Check your local craigslist listings. You can find some great deals on complete setups...sometimes if you are lucky you can get them for free on freecycle.

www.craigslist.com and www.freecycle.org

[redneckturtle]

Ok, Thanks guys for all your replies.

So this is my setup now...I upgraded as much as my turtle fund would go. The larger turtle (female named Slick) now has a 55 gallon tank, all by her lonesome. The little guy, Flip (or girl) has a 20 gallon. It is filled half way, and has a filter and heater. Is the 20 gallon half filled too big for him? He swims all over it, and sometimes trys swimming 'through' the glass like hes getting somewhere. He has a basking area made of rocks (ill buy him something that floats soon). He eats plenty right from my hand. Just wanted to know if the tank is too big I guess. I don't want him to tire himself out.

Thanks again!.

[reptilegrrl]

55 gallons is a good start for Slick, but please consider it temporary. She needs a minimum of 10 gallons of water per inch, and since the tank cannot be filled completely, she isn't even getting her minimum needs met. If Slick is really a female, she will probably produce eggs eventually, and she will need a soft piece of land to avoid becoming egg-bound.

The 20-gallon is not too large for Flip, not at all. If it is filled halfway Flip is still in a small environment, so I would fill it at least 2/3. Soon it will be too small Alternately, you can put Flip in your old 45-gallon.

[missibsu]

Just remember that RES are aquatic turtles and love to swim. Even the youngest ones already have that natural instinct to swim. Fill it up and he'll love it!