Zookeeper Gabe's Animal Thread V6.0

[jefferz]

Hey @Zookeeper Gabe , I just got a slider turtle, it's around 3 inches diameter got any tips for keeping it happy?

It's in a tank with a filter, a small plastic island, and sunlight exposure. water gets replaced weekly.

Also, I believe that she wants to hibernate, she's been placing some pebbles on top of her shell.

Cheers and thanks

What filter and what size tank are you using? Turtles are notorious poop monsters so you need an over sized filter.
Don't feed them feeder fish from a pet store either, most are shipped in huge lots stuffed in to a little bag and they're always sick. You don't want to feed sick fish to your turtle.
Are you using a chlorine remover like Seachem Prime or API Stress Coat?

 

[Lone Coyote]

What filter and what size tank are you using? Turtles are notorious poop monsters so you need an over sized filter.
Don't feed them feeder fish from a pet store either, most are shipped in huge lots stuffed in to a little bag and they're always sick. You don't want to feed sick fish to your turtle.
Are you using a chlorine remover like Seachem Prime or API Stress Coat?

I'm using a smallish 20in x 14in x 9in tank with around 4 inches of water.

Filter is a small one that drops water (no idea of brand nor capacity, it's the one that came with the tank).

I'm feeding her reptomin, using a small amount of chlorine remover and I place a calcium and conditioner tablet in the tank.

Thanks for your insight.

 

[jefferz]

I'm using a smallish 20in x 14in x 9in tank with around 4 inches of water.

Filter is a small one that drops water (no idea of brand nor capacity, it's the one that came with the tank).

I'm feeding her reptomin, using a small amount of chlorine remover and I place a calcium and conditioner tablet in the tank.

Thanks for your insight.

You're going to need a bigger tank. IIRC the rule for RES are 10 gallons per 1 inch of shell. You've already got him in too small of a tank, yours is only a 10 gallon. Water level should be 2 times as long as your turtle. Smallest you can buy is a 4 inch legally, so it should have 8 inches of water to swim in.
Don't throw out your filter cartridge like the pet store will recommend. What makes that filter work is the bacteria that is building up on the cartridge. When you change it, you're getting rid of that bacteria and your tank has to re cycle. The carbon in the cartridges only last about 2-3 days.
Petco and Petsmart run $1 per gallon sales about twice a year, it'll cut the price of the tank in half. They usually have them in December/January and June/July.

 

[Lone Coyote]

You're going to need a bigger tank. IIRC the rule for RES are 10 gallons per 1 inch of shell. You've already got him in too small of a tank, yours is only a 10 gallon. Water level should be 2 times as long as your turtle. Smallest you can buy is a 4 inch legally, so it should have 8 inches of water to swim in.
Don't throw out your filter cartridge like the pet store will recommend. What makes that filter work is the bacteria that is building up on the cartridge. When you change it, you're getting rid of that bacteria and your tank has to re cycle. The carbon in the cartridges only last about 2-3 days.
Petco and Petsmart run $1 per gallon sales about twice a year, it'll cut the price of the tank in half. They usually have them in December/January and June/July.

Thanks for the info, I will keep my eyes for a tank, or I will make one, also, I will be sure to get a filter with more capacity than the tank, to be sure that the environment is ideal for the slider.

Cheers

 

[jefferz]

Thanks for the info, I will keep my eyes for a tank, or I will make one, also, I will be sure to get a filter with more capacity than the tank, to be sure that the environment is ideal for the slider.

Cheers

Don't feed him feeder goldfish or rosey reds from the pet store either. They're usually shipped in big batches in small bags and usually have disease.
I can pm you when the sales start if you want, I'm waiting for the sale to pick up a couple more tanks.
Find a local mom and pop pet store and stick with them. Do not listen to what petco or petsmart employees tell you. Things may cost more at a local owned store, but you get the years of knowledge compared to a college kid at petco.

 

[Lone Coyote]

Don't feed him feeder goldfish or rosey reds from the pet store either. They're usually shipped in big batches in small bags and usually have disease.
I can pm you when the sales start if you want, I'm waiting for the sale to pick up a couple more tanks.
Find a local mom and pop pet store and stick with them. Do not listen to what petco or petsmart employees tell you. Things may cost more at a local owned store, but you get the years of knowledge compared to a college kid at petco.

Will do buddy, thanks a bunch for your help!

 

[jefferz]

Will do buddy, thanks a bunch for your help!

Np. Another option for a tank if you don't care about seeing through the side is a Rubbermaid stock tank.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...oam-stock-tanks-100-gal-capacity?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Lone Coyote]

Np. Another option for a tank if you don't care about seeing through the side is a Rubbermaid stock tank.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...oam-stock-tanks-100-gal-capacity?cm_vc=-10005

Thanks, I have to search for one that can be seen through, that's important because I have the tank inside

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

@jefferz has given some solid advice so far. You're definitely going to need a bigger tank, females get much larger than makes so here's to hoping you have a male. Also these animals with proper care can live 40+ years, keep that in mind. I recommend to everyone to buy a good book, they are more reliable than the Internet and more convienent than a pet store.
To help keep your tank cleaner have a separate feeding container. Pull the turtle, put in container with water and food, wait till done then place back in tank. I also always recommend ghost shrimp as the occasional treat. You can also feed small crickets, worms, mealworms etc. the bulk of the diet can be of reptomin though. Make sure you have proper uvb bulbs, not enough is a problem and to much can cause issues as well. Make sure you have a vet in the area that specializes in reptiles. At least find one who's good with them, I've helped many people given terrible Advice by non-reptile vets.

 

[Lone Coyote]

@jefferz has given some solid advice so far. You're definitely going to need a bigger tank, females get much larger than makes so here's to hoping you have a male. Also these animals with proper care can live 40+ years, keep that in mind. I recommend to everyone to buy a good book, they are more reliable than the Internet and more convienent than a pet store.
To help keep your tank cleaner have a separate feeding container. Pull the turtle, put in container with water and food, wait till done then place back in tank. I also always recommend ghost shrimp as the occasional treat. You can also feed small crickets, worms, mealworms etc. the bulk of the diet can be of reptomin though. Make sure you have proper uvb bulbs, not enough is a problem and to much can cause issues as well. Make sure you have a vet in the area that specializes in reptiles. At least find one who's good with them, I've helped many people given terrible Advice by non-reptile vets.

Thanks, I'm working on a bigger tank and I believe that I have a female, because the turtle lacks long claws. Also, I will install a valve below the tank to clean it faster.

I will buy a small UV light because the turtle gets natural light thought the day.

I've read about a separate container for food, and will keep that in mind, also I've read about the importance of varying the diet, so I will try to treat her with a couple of live things once in a while.

Do I need to let the turtle hibernate? I've read that you shouldn't let them under certain size.

Cheers,

 

[Slick_36]

Thanks for the info, I will keep my eyes for a tank, or I will make one, also, I will be sure to get a filter with more capacity than the tank, to be sure that the environment is ideal for the slider.

Cheers

On behalf of the turtle, thankyou for going through the steps to make sure it's taken care of. My friend had a couple of red eared sliders in a tiny tank with a poor filter, and watching it with a swollen infected ear while he couldn't do anything about it was incredibly hard.

 

[Lone Coyote]

On behalf of the turtle, thankyou for going through the steps to make sure it's taken care of. My friend had a couple of red eared sliders in a tiny tank with a poor filter, and watching it with a swollen infected ear while he couldn't do anything about it was incredibly hard.

No need to thank, why have them if you're not willing to do the work?

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

It's to young to really get a good idea of the sex of the animal. There's no need to hibernate them If they are going to be inside year round. They hibernate as hatchlings in the wild anyways, some people see decreased appetite and activity in the winter but they should be fine. You may need a heater, water temp is usually 4-5 degrees below room temp. Also even though he's getting natural light the glass will filter out some of the uvb radiation.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

This video delivers. Seriously.

This is the best action movie of 2016.

 

[improllyhigh]

How does a fully grown male gorillas chin compare to that of a humans?

 

[MusterX]

This is the best action movie of 2016.

Its one of the greatest nature sequences I've ever seen. The comments said it was like a decent into hell. 6-10 foot long snakes emerging from the rocks all down the beach one after the other, all in pursuit of this young iguana. His escape was gdamned epic. His final leap to the ledge at the top with a snake striking at him in mid air is seriously awesome. I watched that multiple times.

 

[MusterX]

How does a fully grown male gorillas chin compare to that of a humans?

LOL that's funny. If you hit him with a bat he would still rip off your arms bro. I'm not joking, its likely even armed with a baseball bat he could quite easily end you if he so decided to. Luckily for us Gorillas are not violent animals. Chimps on the other hand are frightening. I'm not going to get into it but Chimps are one of the scariest animals on the planet.

 

[MusterX]

How does a fully grown male gorillas chin compare to that of a humans?

Just as an example. The glass at these exhibits is very thick and durable, you couldn't shoot a bullet through it probably or break it with a bat. Watch this Gorilla break the glass and almost go completely through it. That glass is probably 3 or 4 inches thick, I'm sure Gabe could confirm.

 

[Fatchops]

Yea some of the comments describe it as a descent into hell. Large numbers of fast moving serpents crawl out from everywhere. That poor little iguana had to turn and burn.

It hit the bottom of the last page. I'll post it again here for anyone interested in its awesomeness.

Amazing. Talk about nightmare fuel for people who are afraid of snakes.

I can't wait for Planet Earth 2 to be released.

 

[jefferz]

On behalf of the turtle, thankyou for going through the steps to make sure it's taken care of. My friend had a couple of red eared sliders in a tiny tank with a poor filter, and watching it with a swollen infected ear while he couldn't do anything about it was incredibly hard.

Being a fish breeder, I get what you're saying.
Most fish sold at big box stores are destined to live a cruel, miserable life because they aren't cared for properly.