RES Substrate?

[nanoreefer22]

What kind of substrate is suitable for red earred sliders? I've had the turtles for a while and just wondering what kind of substrate would work and not be hazardous if they ate it.

 

[Awibrandy]

Kris, our 15yr.old ear slider no longer has a substrate! I find it much easier to clean his tank that way.

 

[Killerdrgn]

If it's laying eggs you should use vermiculite, but the substrate i have for my turtles basking area is the HD play sand. It doesn't dirty the water and it doesn't clog my fluval 404 like potting soil did.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Awilda,

Thanks I took out the stones I had in there yesterday and cleaning is definately gonna be easier. They finally got big enough to eat the stones, so they started lol.

Killer,

Definately not breeding. Is the HD sand is ok if they eat it, cause lord knows my turtles are always hungry.

-Kris

 

[e.muehlbauer]

I just keep mine in a bare-bottomed tank with a float. Much easier to clean...

 

[Killerdrgn]

the sand is pretty fine grained, and it'll uually just pass as poop covered sand. But i've only had this setup for 6 months now so i can't tell you if there are long term side effects. I don't feed them every day either.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Killer,

What do your feed and how often? DO you feed them in the tank, or take them out and feed them somewhere else?

-Kris

 

[Killerdrgn]

I feed them in the tank, handful of wardleys turtle feed every 2 to 3 days. I have 3 RES's in a 55 gallon tank. Had them for 8 years now.
Here is a pic of my basic setup when I had dirt as the basking area.
Changed a bit now, added a second light over the dark area of the tank and changed the dirt to sand.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Do you give them feeder fish or greens? Anything like that?

I've been feeding twice a day, everyday since May. Is it bad to feed them so often or is just your personal preference to feed every few days?

 

[Killerdrgn]

Depends on how big of a feeding 2 times a day, and how old they are.
If they're young they do require small feedings 2 -3 times a day, gradually when they get older it becomes a larger portion 1 time a day, and then 1 large meal every couple of days. I do feed them "treats" such as feeder fish and worms maybe 1 time every 2 - 3 months, but don't like to since they dirty the tank quick and are very high in protein which can be bad if you feed to often.
I did have the experience of feeding them too much and too often when they were young and found out that doing so made them grow too fast and have shell deformities. Right now i don't even have heaters on the tank so if it gets too cold they'll just hibernate and i'll stop feeding them. Their growth has slowed alot but the shells are starting to even out so i am content.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh and for greens my turtles should have turned herbivore by now but for some reason they don't really like any of the greens i feed them. Probably not used to it since i've only been feeding pellets. I may try to chop up carrots and dandelion leaves, in the spring when they grow, to pellet sized chunks and see if they eat them.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Killer

Thanks for the info. I got these guys half dollar sized and now their about 4inchs across since last May. I think I'm going to slow their feedings. They seem to love lettuce . I haven't tried feeders yet, but will once every couple of months like you do.

At what age would you say its ok for them to start feeding just once a day?

-Kris

 

[Killerdrgn]

probably in a couple of months would be ok, as long as the flesh around the arms and neck aren't totally shrunken in or bulging out the turtles are fine. Shrunken in = starving, bulging out = obese. Yes i had obese turtles.

 

[jejton]

Depends on how big of a feeding 2 times a day, and how old they are.
If they're young they do require small feedings 2 -3 times a day, gradually when they get older it becomes a larger portion 1 time a day, and then 1 large meal every couple of days. I do feed them "treats" such as feeder fish and worms maybe 1 time every 2 - 3 months, but don't like to since they dirty the tank quick and are very high in protein which can be bad if you feed to often.
I did have the experience of feeding them too much and too often when they were young and found out that doing so made them grow too fast and have shell deformities. Right now i don't even have heaters on the tank so if it gets too cold they'll just hibernate and i'll stop feeding them. Their growth has slowed alot but the shells are starting to even out so i am content.

You dont need any substrate in the water or land. Get a basking platform. It will help keep the tank cleaner and no worries about impaction from swallowing substrate. As for no heater, its not a good idea. In order for them to be able to hibernate they need to be well conditioned over a longer period of time ( remember in nature it doesnt get cold overnite but gradually over a season ) and they need mud to dig into. You're better off getting a good heater and keeping it hidden in a piece of PVC so they dont accidentally break it. They also need UV light to properly metabolize calcium ( I believe its calcium ) and prevent shell and bone deformities.

 

[Killerdrgn]

You dont need any substrate in the water or land. Get a basking platform. It will help keep the tank cleaner and no worries about impaction from swallowing substrate. As for no heater, its not a good idea. In order for them to be able to hibernate they need to be well conditioned over a longer period of time ( remember in nature it doesnt get cold overnite but gradually over a season ) and they need mud to dig into. You're better off getting a good heater and keeping it hidden in a piece of PVC so they dont accidentally break it. They also need UV light to properly metabolize calcium ( I believe its calcium ) and prevent shell and bone deformities.

Yeah except the basking platform is not good for egg laying female turtles. And there aren't many good choices for off the shelf platforms for 3 large turtles. I don't have the heat on at anytime, so it does gradually get gradually colder toward the winter and then warmer in the spring. And yes UV light is necessary for turtles to create vitamin D. Not enough doesn't cause shell deformities, it causes shell diseases and eventually death. So yes UV lights is among the basic equipment requirements for keeping turtles.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Now does the UV light have to be one of the ones specifically bought at a pet store or can it be found elsewhere?

 

[Killerdrgn]

I have not found a sufficient UV light from any other source except the pet stores.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Thats what I figured . Sucks those bulbs are expensive

Thanks for all the help Killer

 

[Killerdrgn]

Oh and you should not try the no heat thing until they are much older, I started doing the no heater thing when they were about 4 -5 years old. When i was sure they were healthy enough to make it.