Feeding and Nutrition :: Feeding tank?

[luv4sun]

I just got 3 baby red eared sliders 3 weeks ago and i've been feeding them in my tank. I wanted to get a feeder tank (actually it was a little bowl with some mini stairs and a feeding thing) to feed them in, but my dad says that i need to leave them alone and not handle them. should i wait and get one in a while, or get one now, or never get one? Thier pretty used to me now and they seem to be really healthy! (if that helps)

also, one of my babies is getting pretty big, a lot bigger than the others, and shes growing really fast. she also seems to be eating more than the others. im worried that she will get over fed, from taking the other's food. should i start feding her in a different tank? if you think i should feed all of them in a feeder tank, should i feed her at a different time?

thanks!

[Hoooneylynn]

How big is their regular tank? If the bigger one is becoming aggressive and taking more food, it should be seperated... When a bigger RES harrasses little ones, and takes their food, the little ones might become withdrawn ...

[luv4sun]

I have a 20 gallon tank. the bigger on is the same age as the others, it just eats more so its growing faster. its not being aggressive, it just gets to the food faster than the others. they get along really good.

[marisa]

If the one turtle is getting more food than the others, I'd feed them separately. Maybe take the larger one out and feed him in a separate container of water and feed the others in the tank so they get a fair share of the food. You could also encourage the other two to eat "separately" by putting their portions in different areas of the tank.


It would be good to start thinking of getting a bigger tank, they'll grow fast.

[luv4sun]

thanks, thats what i was thinking of doing. my res are only about 1/2 and inch to an inch, so i don't really need a bigger tank yet. what shoiuld i use as a fedder tank for the bigger turtle? i was thinking of using a "island lagoon" from turtlesale [not reputable].com. (its a plastic bowl with a ramp that goes up to this little platform-thats out of the water-that also has a place to put food.)

[marisa]

You could use that if he can grab the food and eat it comfortably in the water. Any clean container (for his use only) would do. I've bought and used dishpans for feeding containers.

[industrial_girl_2000]

rubbermaid dishpan is all I have ever used. Easy to fill, easy to dump, easy to clean.

[Hoooneylynn]

20 gallons is much too small for 3 turts... you need 10 gallons per inch per turtle... how many inches are they? That tank might be big enough for one, but not 3.... I would look into rubbermaid tubs if money is an issue... they are cheap and you can get a 50 gallon one! Other than that, start looking for a bigger tank soon.... that 20 gallon might be big enough for one turt now, but not for long.

[luv4sun]

the turtles are tiny. they have TONS of room to swim around, and when they start growing a bit bigger, i'll probably think about getting a bigger tank. but i don't even have the space in my room for a bigger tank now, i hardly have the space for the 20 gallon, but don't worrie, they have planty of room to do every thing! but how do you find rubbermaid tubes? i've never heard of them that big!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Just remember, those turtles arent going to stay tiny forever. I mean, by the time their 4 inches each (probably by the end of year or less) Your going to have to look into a tank thats over 100 gallons! And if they dont get along, then you will be forced to seperate them. 20 gallons isnt enough space for 3 turtles, it may seem that it is - but it is not. Yes, they will do okay in it for a couple of weeks, maybe months..but only time can tell when agression will start. Almost everyone that keeps multiple turtles (including myself) experience fluttering and occasional biteing. So, becareful..

[kiwigerman]

I'd get a feeding tank sooner rather than later if I was you. With any animal I think its better to get them into a pattern as soon as pos. Less stress later.

[steve]

I would only try it after they have become adjusted, are healthy and have good appetites. It can be stressful and not all RES like the idea. The serious beggers seem to not mind