FishProfiles.com Message Forums

	Turtles
Little Caesar Fish Guru Posts: 2351 Kudos: 548 Votes: 0 Registered: 09-Jan-2003	I am considering breaking down my 20 gallon long tank and trading in my fish in that tank to get a turtle instead. Is a 20 gallon long tank large enough for 1 turtle (red eared slider)? I heard they can grow to 10 inches over a few years, but that they can start out in a 20 gallon long tank when younger. For 1 turtle, that should be ok...right? Also, what exactly do they eat? ~~ Caviar? no thanks! ~~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Evan Wayne Fish Addict Posts: 797 Kudos: 542 Votes: 0 Registered: 25-Feb-2003	I'm not sure if thats a aquatic turtule but if its a regular land turtle(has claws not fins on its feet) but that would be fine. And if its a regular(claws) it will eat basically a salad(tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and whatever) they also eat some fruits and they have food thats meant for them. The food comes in pellet form.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Little Caesar Fish Guru Posts: 2351 Kudos: 548 Votes: 0 Registered: 09-Jan-2003	Well for red eared sliders, half the tank has to be water and half has to be land. They are semi aquatic.... at least that is what I found on some other sites. ~~ Caviar? no thanks! ~~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Toirtis Mega Fish Posts: 1260 Kudos: 529 Votes: 6 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	RESes are semi-aquatic, and you could house a baby (under 3" long) in there for a few months, so long as you could provide a good temperature gradient over the tank, a decent basking-spot and a good UV light source. Within a year, you are going to need around a 125-150 gallon wide aquarium for your turtle, although I personally recommend 250 gallon+ indoor ponds. I have seen large mature RESes up to 13" long (from the front of the carapace to the back), although 9"-12" is more common.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Little Caesar Fish Guru Posts: 2351 Kudos: 548 Votes: 0 Registered: 09-Jan-2003	ok, forget it then...lol ~~ Caviar? no thanks! ~~
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
bjk Hobbyist Posts: 149 Kudos: 71 Votes: 0 Registered: 09-Oct-2003	my red eared sliders are 6 years old and in a 20 gal long. not over 5 inches yet, slow growers maybe...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Toirtis Mega Fish Posts: 1260 Kudos: 529 Votes: 6 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	Definitely slow growers...I currently have a pair of ten year-old RESes in my rescue that are 12" and 14" respectively.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
pygmyhippo Enthusiast Posts: 154 Kudos: 138 Votes: 0 Registered: 04-Oct-2003	to say RES are semi-aquatic isn't really fair. they are almost fully aquatic and love the swimming space. unless you have a female (which get HUUUUUUGE!), driftwood or a "turtle dock" or high rocks will suffice as a basking site. turtles also require UVB lighting AND a basking (heat) lamp. they're really cool but expensive to care for, and, as has been said, they will eventually need a HUGE tank. if you want a turtle that is a bit easier to care for and can live in a 20-30g tank, go for a mud or musk, not a RES!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18
Toirtis Mega Fish Posts: 1260 Kudos: 529 Votes: 6 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	to say RES are semi-aquatic isn't really fair. they are almost fully aquatic Not really..they are far less aquatic than softshells, snappers, etc.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:18


	Jump to:

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies