Feeding and Nutrition :: Help

[Nikknik]

I am need ing help on my turtles...............
I have been looking up info on the web on Red Eared Slider turtles..............We got to baby red eared slider turtles at out local fair on October 15th of this year. Well they did not tell us anything about them. We have had them going on 3 weeks now and they have no eaten anything since we had them.........I am getting a little worried about that too. I have them both in a 5 gallon tank with a little bit of water on one end and have the pea gravel rocks coming up out of the water for them to bask on. One can open his eyes and the other can not. I just love the little guys and I dont want anything to happen to them. But I need help on how do help them. Do I need more water in the tank? How do I get them to eat? Please help me.
Thanks

[flutterby]

You need a bigger tank, 10 gallons per inch of turtle. I would get rid of the gravel because they can eat it and it can lead to impaction. You need a place for them to bask, and I don't think you can adequately fit one in a five gallon tank.

You can learn more here..

http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care.html

[jenaero]

You'll need a larger tank, as flutterby said, but you'll also need a heat lamp and uvb lamp. If they're not warm enough, they won't eat.

[marisa]

Welcome. What are you trying to feed them? Try something with a stronger odor (like bits of tuna or sardine packed in water). Also try bloodworms (I use frozen ones) and/or something live, like pieces of cut-up earthworm. They're going to need to have the water at a constant temp---get a submersible water heater if the temp fluctuates where you are. I'd set it at 80F for now.

The one with the closed eyes---are they swollen at all? Just in case he has a Vit A deficiency, getting some plain cod liver oil and applying a bit on the eyelids for a few days would help if he does have one.

Read up on the basics to you can create a good habitat for your turtles.

[Nikknik]

You need a bigger tank, 10 gallons per inch of turtle. I would get rid of the gravel because they can eat it and it can lead to impaction. You need a place for them to bask, and I don't think you can adequately fit one in a five gallon tank.

You can learn more here..

http://www.redearslider.com/index_basic_care.html

What should I use in place of the gravel ( it is the colored gravel you put in the bottom of tanks for fish)? They have a place to bask I have the gravel built up on 1 side of the tank. Do they need more water? Now over the weekend the one turlte with the close eyes its mouth is opened a little bit. I think he might be sick. Thanks for all your help.

[JNZBCBnLIL]

I'm new to all of this as well and this site is very helpful if you just read through the basic care! You shouldn't use gravel at all but I was told to use river rocks which you can find at Petsmart or Petco- they're just bigger smooth rocks and I only put about 20 or so on the bottom for my lil one to play with! How big are your babies? I'm guessing if you got them at the fair they're probably still hatchlings! I got Leo down in FL and the people at the store made me feel like it was going to be fairly cheap to take care of him but it's not the most inexpensive thing in the world- they're awesome pets though! I wouldn't trade Leo for any amount of money! You'll probably end up wanting to get a floating dock (which you can also find at most pet stores) or atleast that's what I use- you would have to ask someone else about how they either built their own dock or position bigger rocks the correct way so they don't fall over and hurt your RES! The bigger the better for the tank because they grow very fast in their first year- I'm finding that out! Like someone said up there you need 10 gallons per inch so even if each of them is only 2 inches at this point you'll need a 40 gallon tank and an even bigger one then that soon- so again bigger is better because it'll save you money in the long run! I see a lot of people using rubbermaid containers (or atleast thats what they look like to me) on here- so you can go bigger, but cheaper! Browse the site and you should be able to find some examples! O and make sure when you do get a new bigger tank set up to give them lots of water- they love to swim! I'll post a pic of my tank just for an example of what I have set up for one hatchling RES! (he's 2 inches so I have a 20 gallon tank- which will have to be upgraded soon) I hope this was somewhat helpful!



if you choose to get the floating dock like I, and a lot of others on here have, you probably don't want to suction the bottom 2 suction cups to the tank because the RES like to try and squeeze through the bars!

[flutterby]

You shouldn't use gravel at all but I was told to use river rocks which you can find at Petsmart or Petco- they're just bigger smooth rocks and I only put about 20 or so on the bottom for my lil one to play with!

You can also get them at Home Depot you just have to wash them up pretty good. You don't have to have anything on the bottom of your tank, the river rocks can hide the "mess" but can be a pain in the butt to clean when you're cleaning the tank. Though a few in there can give your turtles something to "play" with.

[megcornell]

The first thing I would do is get a larger tank. I'm not sure a basking dock really fits in anything smaller than a 10gallon tank. But as you have two turtles you def. want something larger than 10 gallons, you should buy the largest tank you can afford to avoid having to upgrade to a larger one for a while.
Once they are in a more suitable habitat they should start to feel comfortable and eat... it takes a few days for turtles to adjust to new tanks, and if they are really stubborn you can try a smelly treat like dipping their pellets in tuna fish.
As for the one with closed eyes, buy him/her some cod liver oil or "zoo med repti turtle eye drop" or an equivalent turtle eye drop, but don't give both the cod liver oil and the eye drops at the same time, only use one. In a few days the eyes should open an be less irritated.
Also, you didn't mention water temps or lighting? Do you have thermometers and a basking light? You'll also need a UVB light eventually, the sooner you can get one the better. If the turtles are cold, they won't eat and they can get very ill... so it's important to regulate and monitor the temps. Read the basic care info and the sticky notes to see what a set-up needs... you can look in the photo gallery to see how other people have set up their tanks and possibly get some ideas...

Good luck!