Substrate, Terrapin sys. 2/19/09
Hello!
I'm quite worried, as my red-eared terrapin, housed alone in a big tank, keeps
trying to climb out non-stop. It's VERY restless... climbing and digging away at
the sides of the tank. Currently it's about 7-inches in length, and I'm worried
it may have eggs. It laid eggs in the water before, because I only have a rock
as its basking area.
Just need to check, would it be safe for me to place a
small basin into the tank, with a mixture of soil and sand for it to lay its
eggs?
Thank you!
Best Regards,
Alex
<Hi Alex. It does sound like
you have a female anxious to lay her eggs.
It's important to let her do so:
if not, she'll be prone to egg-binding, and that's a painful (and expensive)
problem to deal with. Yes, putting a dish of dry sand somewhere above the
waterline is recommended. It will need to be reasonably big and deep so that she
can sit on the sand comfortably, and dig a nest a couple of inches deep.
Something like a cat litter tray is ideal, filled with silica sand or river sand
to a depth of 2-3 inches, at least. The nesting site will need to be bigger than
the turtle, otherwise she won't be able to climb in and make her nest. Obviously
these eggs will be infertile and won't hatch if she's not mated with a male in
the last couple of weeks. Cheers, Neale.>
Hello Neale,
Thank you so much!
I will get cracking on it!
Cheers,
Alex
<Happy to help. Good luck, Neale.>
Turtle Toys - 05/17/2006
I was wondering if you guys have any ideas for turtle toys. Our 2 turtles
(Tank and Diesel) get bored. I was wondering if there were any toys made for
turtles or any thing that could be turned into a toy. Thanks, Lisa
< Turtles are always interested in food. I would recommend that you vary their
diet with live earthworms, crickets, mealworms and kingworms. If they are
somewhat larger you could add vegetable matter like spinach and kale. Zoo Med
has recently come out with a floating turtle log. It is a hollow floating log
that turtles can climb out on as well as go inside to feed. I am confident they
will love it.-Chuck>
Turtles Will eat The Newt 10/22/05
Hello, I would like to thank you for your extensive question database which
has provided me with many answers!
I was wondering just how long one red-eared slider baby would be alright
in a ten gallon tank. I've been researching and planning for providing a great
home for one of these guys for a long time and realize that one day it will need
a nice happy pond.
< A ten gallon tank would only work for a few months depending on the temps you
turtle is kept at.>
Would a Whisper internal (10i) filter be good for about 5 gallons of water for
the little guy?
< Turtles are messy feeders. A filter helps but only as long as you are willing
to clean it. Clean it often and do many water changes.>
I also have one fire-bellied newt and was wondering (although I am quite
doubtful) if they would be okay in the tank together until the turtle grows
larger, or if a separate tank right at the beginning would be necessary.
< Turtle will try and eat the newt every chance it gets. The newt may also be
toxic to the turtle.>
If this is possible, my newt tank is planted heavily with live plants. I would
not mind if the turtle ate them, but have heard
that some plants are not okay for a turtle to eat. I have Mondo grass,
Anacharis, java moss, and a few other plants (I don't know the names of the
others.)
< Turtle would pick at the Anacharis and probably leave the others alone but it
would be a bull in a china shop with all the plants being uprooted every chance
he gets.>
I also have a five gallon tank at home that is not being used and think that
either the newt or the turtle could stay in it for a while. (I think the newt
would be happier there than the turtle since it would only have about 2-3
gallons of water.) I previously had three newts, but the other two were VERY
young and, like many pet store fire bellies, had a rough beginning and came to
me with rot which I was unable to cure.
I eventually separated them from my adult, who is still living a happy and
healthy life hanging out in her favorite plant, the Anacharis bunch. Also, what
is your opinion on the occasional snack of a ghost shrimp for aquatic turtles?
< Great.>
(I know I am asking many questions here.) There is a very large debate over
whether to use gravel or not. Of course cleaning is easier without it. I read
where someone had used no gravel but had vinyl flooring in the bottom to give
traction. Do you think the turtles really care?
< No not really.>
Like fish do, would turtles eat their own poo if there was no gravel to trap it?
< They have been known to eat their own fecal matter if they are hungry and no
other food is around. Many fish stores carry gravel vacs that will do a great
job of cleaning your gravel while siphoning the tank water.>
Thank you in advance for you time and patience with my plethora of questions. I
appreciate what you do in an attempt to rid the world of people who improperly
care for their pets.
< Just plugging away one question at a time.-Chuck>
