Hi
Beware...this is going to be long.
My family is turtle sitting this summer. Our ward is a red ear named Akamimi. He is just a few inches.
Akamimi didnt come to us with more than the basics. Home smaller than an aquarium with nice rocks and some food. I am guessing he has a better set up at home, but dont know. He isnt very old and so I doubt his owner has had alot of time to do research and a set up.
I was so surprised to find a whole website and a forum just for RES! Thank you!!! I needed so much info!!
In the past two weeks staying with us the little guy has gotten to roam the living room (we have no pets) and the porch. He likes to be out. He has a towel we put out that he curls up in and goes to sleep when he is done roaming.
Here is how ignorant we were about the little guy.. he does so well in a dry area that we bought a tank and ground cover (like for reptiles) and a wonderful dish for him to swim in. It seemed like a good idea at the time. He flounders in deeper water like a toddler in a pool. The first thing he did was burrow in the ground cover and didnt come out. The ground cover was soon removed and water was added. We put a big (clean) rock in that was well propped so he could swim under as well and climb on where it was dry.. and a lamp. He was freaked out for a while. He did the flounder thing until he found he could touch bottom and still stick his head out. He finally found his way on top of the rock.. under the lamp and spent the rest of the evening finding where he could climb on and get off safely. (He is not a risk taker)
Tonight he is back in the small home while we set up the filter, heater, plants, dry dock place and all. Even got some cuttle-stuff and gross little shrimp things that he seems to like.
He is so cute and so much personality. He watches TV too.
Thank you all for your info on this site. It has been a turtle life saver for certain!