Map turtle or a red eared slider turtle care HELP!!!?
I have a 40 gallon aquarium and im planning on buying a map turtle or maybe a red eared slider,I know i need a turtle dock) and a light with heat and uvb light on the docking area
right now i have a heater for the water, a 40 gallon in tank filter, and a 45 gallon outside hang on back filter, and a bubbler(tank is already cycled)(i know how to take care of fish well so water quality isnt a problem, kept oscars for 5 years)
Do i need to buy a uva light?
What temperature should the tank be (water and basking area)?
What watt bulb should i buy?
Should i buy a screen to put on top of the tank and why?
How much water should i put in the tank?
What do i need to buy?
Do pet stores sell light bulbs that can do uvb, heat, possible uva(if needed)
How much does it normally cost to set up a turtle tank and how long will it take?
Thank you everyone and sorry for all the questions =)
You may want to start with a Red-eared Slider or Painted Turtle if this is your first turtle. Map turtles are much more nervous and infection-prone than the pond turtles.
Do i need to buy a uva light? – No, you only need the bulb for heat and the UVB.
What temperature should the tank be (water and basking area)? – The water should be 70 – 85, the basking area should be 85-90.
What watt bulb should i buy? – A 60-75 watt bulb will provide more than enough heat, for the UVB you’ll want the Repti-Sun 5.0. Fluorescent tubes are better than the compact bulbs, which have been implicated in eye damage in turtles.
Should i buy a screen to put on top of the tank and why? – A screen is only necessary if your turtles can reach the upper edge of their tank while standing upright on their basking platform. If you have any cats, a screen will protect them until they’ve grown.
How much water should i put in the tank? – The water level should be as high as possible, these turtles can handle deep water even when very young. Adding plants to the tank will make it easier for them to fight the currents generated by the filters.
What do i need to buy? You already have most of what you need. You already know what you need lighting-wise. Substrate isn’t necessary and can even be detrimental to the turtles, so all you really need is some plants (real or artificial) and something to provide an underwater shelter, like half a ceramic pot.
Do pet stores sell light bulbs that can do uvb, heat, possible uva(if needed) – Most pet stores carry basking bulbs and UVB bulbs. UVB bulbs don’t produce enough heat for basking so you will need another bulb, regular incandescent bulbs will work fine. I would suggest (securely!) suspending a small shop light equipped with UVB tubes from wall brackets over the tank, and aiming a clamp light w/ incandescent bulb over the basking platform.
How much does it normally cost to set up a turtle tank and how long will it take? – It doesn’t take long at all. For the cost, if you go with the shop light/clamp lamp setup:
Shop light frame: $12-$15
Wall brackets: $3-$5 each
UVB tube: $23-$27, replaced every 6 months
Clamp lamp: $13-$26
Light bulbs: You can get 4-packs for about $3 just about anywhere.
You’ll run throught filters very quickly, most likely replacing them every 2 weeks once the turtle’s a couple years old.
The fact that you already have a tank and 2 filters will save you a lot in initial setup costs. A 40 gallon tank will last you at least 4 years, maybe longer depending on the species you buy.
I hope that answers your questions. Good luck!
I have a Red-eared slider, or I suppose you could say Map turtle, either way, I have one.
The tank water should be I think 74 degrees Farenheit. The heater you use should automatically warm or cool the tank to a preset temperature. Well, mabe thats just mine..
I have a 75 watt bulb for my 40 gallon tank.
I have a locking screen on mine because my turtle will sometimes get bored and try to climb up the side of the filter or push the rock to the edge of the glass and try to climb out. Hes hilarious (:
The water needs to be and inch or so tller than the turtle itself so that its deep enough to swim, but not too deep.
You NEED a filter!! The filter should be cleaned once a week. Also, I buy this water conditioner tablet that I put in the water after I’ve cleaned the filter. It keeps that water clear and its all right if your turtle nibbles at it, as long as he doesnt eat the whole thing because its not really food.
Good petstores like PetSmart sell filters, light bulbs, water heaters, and all neccisary supplies you will need.
I dont know how much or how long, but you want to be sure the tank is always clean and you clean it often. Also, you will want small rocks, like river rocks. not too small, but maybe pebbles the size of a small marble. They do eat rocks like these. Dont worry if your turtle does this- It helps them digest food. If you need any other help, contact me from my page thingy on here. I have many turtles and I have much experience. Good Luck on your new pet!
-Emma, 13
P.S. You want to keep your turtle’s diet balanced and healthy or it will be more likely to get a disease. I feed my turtle Reptomin pellits (just grab a pinch and toss them in the water), I also buy feeder fish from the pet store. Feeder fish are like those tiny orange and brown fish that are always in those tanks with millions of them all together. You will want to ask a pet store employee for more advice on what size of fish to feed your turtle. I dont buy the fish very often though; its more like a treat I give him once a month or two months. Occasionally, I toss a piece of Romaine lettuce in the water and my turtle chomps it up! They really like that lettuce.
P.P.S. In the summer, I have a plastic kiddie pool on my back deck that I fill up with water and mount a rock in to stick my turtle outside during the day. If you choose to do this, you should be sure to have a part of the pool that will always be shaded as well as a part that will always be in the sun. ALWAYS bring them in at night, ALWAYS! If your turtle is a hatchling, I wouldn’t have him outside until he a older and stonger. Also, don’t have the pool water too deep of else the turtle will climb out. That has happened to me before. Turtles are extremem escape artists. Thats all I really have to say for now. Thanks! (: