My dad got me turtles, but I don't know how to raise them. - General

[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/yAECTFU.jpg[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/GeV4ixp.jpg[/img_thumb] My parents were in L.A. and found turtles for cheap in Chinatown. It came in a tiny carry case, and was obvious they would not thrive there. So I bought a larger case and water heater, hoping that they will not die within the next few weeks. They absolutely love the water heater, and enjoy floating just above it. I'm planning on getting a MVB bulb online, and buying a clamping basking lamp locally. However, I don't know anything about turtles. In the images, you can see some of the food pellets uneaten and left to swell. I try to feed them every morning before I leave school, but I never see them eat. What exactly am I supposed to do to get these turtles to eat and thrive?

The food pellets should be good enough of a food source, it's a possibility you're giving them a little too much. Turtles don't really need to eat a whole lot.

Make sure you clean that tank out regularly.

I saw your thread from the main page and for some reason I thought you were talking about Turtle Beaches and you wanted to know how to raise the volume.

They look like Red Eared Sliders, here're some info/caresheets that should be relevant [url]http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheet-red_ear_slider.htm[/url] [url]http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html[/url] [url]http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html[/url]

turtles as so fucking awesome Good luck raising them

kill one of the turtles to fill the other one with hatred which can be harnessed to shape it on to the ultimate battle turtle make sure to look the survivor dead in the eye and say "learn from this"

At what time should I feed them? They didn't eat for the first few days because I didn't have a water heater, and I thought that they were inactive due to the cold water. Even after getting a water heater I haven't seen them eat, but they are less anxious and stopped swimming into the corners of the tank. I read that you should feed them as much as they can eat in the morning, and that's their meal for the day. But mine haven't eaten in the past few days despite their environment improving.

I'll take them, I fucking love reptiles. :v:

Buy 2 more turtle and put masks over their eyes and provide them with weapons than buy a rat that will teach them kung fu and than reenact Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

I live in northern CA and keep my 3 turtles outside. They don't eat in the winter but they have been eating these past few winters because of global warming. I think that if you can trick them into thinking it's not winter, they'll eat. Also they grow very slowly so it'll be 30 years before they get to the size of mine so don't worry about buying a new tank any time soon

[QUOTE=Dr.C;44070405]I live in northern CA and keep my 3 turtles outside. They don't eat in the winter but they have been eating these past few winters because of global warming. I think that if you can trick them into thinking it's not winter, they'll eat. Also they grow very slowly so it'll be 30 years before they get to the size of mine so don't worry about buying a new tank any time soon[/QUOTE] Here is the size of my current set up, about 13"x8" in area. [img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/GJpi34F.jpg[/img_thumb] The docking bay is about 40% of the tank size, but with the addition of the heater, swimming space has become a lot more cramped. Despite the smaller space, do you think turtles of this size will still enjoy the space?

Give them some ooze and pizza and they'll be up and fighting in no time.

don't turtles need a sun lamp in their tank or something? I remember hearing that somewhere. maybe they're inactive because the surface air is cooler.

[QUOTE=jonnymad;44070322]I'll take them, I love fucking reptiles. :v:[/QUOTE] :quagmire: But one a serious note, These turtles can get rather big you may need a bigger tank

those are friggin adorable

I'm looking for an MVB light bulb so I don't need to waste money on two lamps and two bulbs. Is there anywhere I can find a reliable one for cheap? And do I need any substrate? I'm reading turtle forums and people say these red ear sliders like digging in sand, but it's hard as fuck to clean. Others use large rocks, but I don't really see any purpose in them if the turtle can't interact with it.

[QUOTE=Tetsmega;44072814]I'm looking for an MVB light bulb so I don't need to waste money on two lamps and two bulbs. Is there anywhere I can find a reliable one for cheap? And do I need any substrate? I'm reading turtle forums and people say these red ear sliders like digging in sand, but it's hard as fuck to clean. Others use large rocks, but I don't really see any purpose in them if the turtle can't interact with it.[/QUOTE] It's hard to clean any substrate, they fucking shit all over it :v: my beardie shits constantly, so I ended up just using carpet, easier to clean and replaceable. Would doubt carpet would work as well for turtles though.

this is all you need to know mate [video=youtube;aqW5upASa-8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqW5upASa-8[/video]

Oh sweet, red-eared sliders are so adorable. I have one, too. :D [img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7835823/nids_turtle.jpg[/img]

Wash your hands after you touch them. They're also illegal to own if they're under four inches, which I assume those are. We used to have two ones of those, but bigger. You're going to need a pretty big tank with a dry area. Normally those floating rocks that they can get on work well, and a heating lamp. Just give them some food pellets and then when they get older you can feed them some small feeder fish.

Would you suggest I feed them any feeder bugs for protein at that size? Obviously if they get bigger I will definitely get more variety in their diet, but I'm unsure if anything more than pellet food is necessary. And yeah...they're "4" inches if you get me. [editline]28th February 2014[/editline] I also don't know how to feed turtles. Do I just drop in some pellets and hope they eat it? My research told me that they like eating in the water.

[QUOTE=Tetsmega;44075897]Would you suggest I feed them any feeder bugs for protein at that size? Obviously if they get bigger I will definitely get more variety in their diet, but I'm unsure if anything more than pellet food is necessary. And yeah...they're "4" inches if you get me. [editline]28th February 2014[/editline] I also don't know how to feed turtles. Do I just drop in some pellets and hope they eat it? My research told me that they like eating in the water.[/QUOTE] Yeah. Thats the best bet. You can also get these tiny little cubes, and you drop them in the water and they'll dissolve and worms will come out of it. I wouldn't recommend feeding them feeder fish at that age. Might wanna look into getting a big tank if you're planning on keeping them. I think a 30 galleon or so would do you well for a good while.

Lettuce, corn, green beans, carrots, apple, banana and tomatoes works

I've actually managed to catch my turtles eating the pellets this morning, so I'm glad they're actually eating. The calm one actually ate most of it, while the head-striped one hid in the corner like a wimp. Any suggestions for names? One of the turtles has a really green head, is mostly calm and enjoys floating around. The other one with an orange stripe on it's head is always relaxing by the water heater, panics whenever I get near, and shoves it's face under things like a scared emu.

[QUOTE=Tetsmega;44106040]I've actually managed to catch my turtles eating the pellets this morning, so I'm glad they're actually eating. The calm one actually ate most of it, while the head-striped one hid in the corner like a wimp. Any suggestions for names? One of the turtles has a really green head, is mostly calm and enjoys floating around. The other one with an orange stripe on it's head is always relaxing by the water heater, panics whenever I get near, and shoves it's face under things like a scared emu.[/QUOTE] Leonardo and Michelangelo of course.

[QUOTE=Tetsmega;44106040]I've actually managed to catch my turtles eating the pellets this morning, so I'm glad they're actually eating. The calm one actually ate most of it, while the head-striped one hid in the corner like a wimp. Any suggestions for names? One of the turtles has a really green head, is mostly calm and enjoys floating around. The other one with an orange stripe on it's head is always relaxing by the water heater, panics whenever I get near, and shoves it's face under things like a scared emu.[/QUOTE] Up and Down.

Kanye and Kdot

Easter and Christmas. :v:

Adolf and Joseph!