JAPANESE RED EAR SLIDER
Dear Sir;
I am not sure if this is correct place to go. We live in Tokyo, Japan and have found a red slider walking in our front yard and need some questions answered. Getting information here is difficult due to the language barrier we have. We do not speak or read Japanese. Getting information about something this detailed is difficult because even when we find some one that speaks some English they are not able to explain or answer enough of our questions.
Do you know of a book that we may purchase?
< Go to Zoomed.com for a small informative book you can buy along with essentials you may need to keep your new turtle healthy.>
I have read a great deal about feeding them mealworms, earthworms and other types. I have no idea where in Tokyo to get such things. I have Tetra Turtle Min food and of course fresh fruits and vegetable (which she does not eat) She only wants the stick food, shrimp or fish.. 
Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Lea Ann Carley Sattler
< You are on the right track with the food. But you need to get a basking light for him too or his shell will soon turn soft and he will die. I am pretty sure you can find some ZooMed products in Japan. Print out the pictures from the web site and take them to some local pet shops of fish stores and show them what you need. I am certain that someone there can help you. -Chuck>

FLOATING TURTLE
I've had my turtle since November of 2004. I just cleaned the turtle's aquarium today and noticed that when I put him in the water he would float. Even if I tried to push him down to the bottom (not long at all) he just shot back up to the top. What should I do? What's wrong with him?
Emily
< Hopefully nothing. Check his diet and make sure that he is not getting too much protein and his shell is not growing too fast and out of proportion to the rest of his body. Make sure he has a good basking spot to help digest his food and hopefully pass any gas or air in the system. If you don't see any change in a week or so then I would consult a vet that hopefully specializes in reptiles.-Chuck>

Female Bit Off Male's Claws?  Turtle Stuff
I apologize I am just now getting back to you. The email you wrote inexplicably went into my junk mail box so unfortunately I just saw your response. Thanks so much for answering ALL of my questions. It is so kind of you to take time out of your day to help others.  I definitely try to take care of the turtles as best I can. (You should see how I care for my dogs!) The main reason I suspected it was her who caused the wounds was due to the simple fact he was really hot on her tail at that time and sometimes she gets really pissed and snaps at him. I did think it might have been too suspect t hat it happened on both claws though. I picked up some RidRot drops and Sulfa baths to treat him with he seems to be healing well (but of course I still would love to know what happened to him). I have been watching them closer to be sure it doesn't get worse. I am positive it was not caught on anything since their recent tank set up is stripped down and there is actual wounds where several of the claws are missing so a trim is probably out of the question too. But again I learn everyday so I wouldn't surprised if it was something I never considered. I have raised their temps. I don't plan to hibernate them. I have never done so in the past. If it is something you recommend please let me know. I will check out the site you mentioned. Wiggle Puppy is just my company's name. Named after my first dog, Bootsy, who would do what we called the wiggle puppy when he was happy to see us (paws down and butt in the air while shaking his tail). We do film and video work (some features but lately mostly band/concert films). Our last bigger release was a rockumentary for the band Phish entitled IT.  Thanks again for the advice. Let me know if you ever need any multimedia work!
< Make sure that you try and keep the water clean so the wounds don't get infected.  Once again a warm dry area to bask is essential for their health.-Chuck>

Social turtles?
Hi I was wondering if you were the one that I talk about my turtle? if I  
have the right person I was wondering I have an ornate wooden turtle and I was  
wondering if  they to have like other turtles in the cage with  them?
< They really don't care one way or another.-Chuck>

Steps Too Tall for Turtle?
Hello,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I am the overly anxious new owner of a red eared slider.  I am concerned about the basking area.  I set it up using different sized bricks.  The first one is about 3 and 1/2 inches off the bottom and completely covered with water, the next is about 2 inches, and the top is another 2 inches up.  My question is- is that first step too high up for him?  I have only had him less than a day but he doesn't go up there unless I put him up there.  Should that first step be lower?  I saw him get down okay, just not up.
<It would help to know how large the turtle is.  I would give him a longer platform, instead of the extra step.>  
Thanks for your help
Julie

Turtles as a Human Health Hazard (12/12/04)
I was trying to get my Fluval pump working for my red eared slider tank, and I stupidly used my mouth to try to siphon the water to get the air out of the pump tubes and some dirty turtle water went in to my mouth. I did spit it out immediately, but am very paranoid and nervous.  Should I be overly concerned?  Should I take any antibiotics?  Please provide your opinions or
any links to problems like this. Thank you in advance for your assistance. <I would not lose any sleep right now. Salmonella is the greatest risk, and most cases of this are seldom treated with antibiotics in otherwise healthy adults. Prophylactic antibiotics are not a good idea in this situation. If you get sick (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, etc), go see your doctor and tell him/her what happened. Learn from this and do not use your mouth to start siphon in the future. Steve Allen.>

Shedding turtle?  11/22/04
Hi,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have two sliders, about 18 months old, and recently noticed little pieces of shell in the bottom of their tank.  They don't have any holes in them or soft spots on the shells or anything that looks odd.  They are eating ok and are still happy enough for me to handle - the only thing that has changed recently is the type of food I have been giving them.  Could the shell coming off be a result of the food not being the right sort??
Would be grateful if you could help.
<Your turtles shed pieces of it's shell until it has a newer, larger one.  That's how they grow.  Make sure they have a calcium supplement for a nice, hard, new shell. ~PP>
Cheers

Sexing a Painted Turtle  11/22/04
Hi,
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
I have a 21 year old painted turtle that I adopted from I friend about a year ago.  
<Now that's an old reptile!>
My friend claims that some time ago should found a small egg in the turtle's aquarium and so she assumed that the turtle must be female.
<Very good guess.>
But when I held one of my female box turtles up next to the glass of the aquarium to say hi to the water turtle, the water turtle started doing that weird hand swishing mating ritual, which would suggest the turtle is a male turtle, right?
<I think the egg was the giveaway on this one.  It must be a female turtle.  You can also tell by it's tail.  Males have tiny short tails & females have longer fat tails.  My turtles do happy dances whenever I go near their tank, thinking they might be fed.>
Assuming my friend wasn't hallucinating or lying,  where could an egg possibly come from? Strange question, I know.
<Unless there was another critter in the tank to lay an egg, it had to come from the turtle.  ~PP>
-LG

Box Turtle Care & Feeding  11/21/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
This may be normal behavior, or I may have been misinformed on care.  I have a box turtle-about 1.5 years old.  She is in a 10 gallon aquarium w/sand or aquarium gravel on the bottom, about 2 inches of water and about 10 1 inch-ish rocks scattered about for basking.  There is also a fake plant and a decorative rock in there with her.  My problem is that she seems almost sad.  She always hides under the plant, doesn't eat very well-refuses to eat the pellets they gave me at the stores and is partial to iceberg lettuce and any fruit.  She has done really well today, but I'm worried she may be lonely.  (A friend found the baby nest in a river behind his house, gave some away when old enough and returned the rest where they were found).  My brother got her, or I would have asked for 2 lol.  I was wondering a few things 1) Am I caring for her properly 2) Would it be a good idea to get her a "buddy" 3) If so, what kind of turtles get along well with box turtles?
Any advice would be wonderful, and I apologize if I re-asked a question, I'm not a good skimmer.
<1st thing, I must ask you to please use proper capitalization in your letters.  These go to our FAQs & I have to fix them myself, before sending it.  That takes away from time I could be answering other questions.  If you do really have a box turtle (high arched shell, brown in color, locally caught ones usually have 3 back toes), then it is a land animal, not water.  It will need a container large enough to soak in for water, but mostly a dry area to hang out in.  I use cypress mulch about 3" thick, so it can bury itself, if they wish.  It will need a 20g long tank, so you can have one cool end (with the water bowl) & a warm end (with a reflector lamp above).  You need to change the water as soon as it gets dirty, as this will also be it's drinking water.  It will also like a cave to hide in (a large shoebox with one side cut out will do).  There is prepared box turtle foods made, but it can get expensive.  When wild box turtles have been dissected, they found mostly earthworms in their stomach, so that should be #1 on their list.  Usually I mix up some frozen mixed veggies, & diced fruit, mushrooms & canned dog food.  If you haunt your local grocery, you can sometimes see them taking old, soft fruit off the shelves.  Ask them if you can have it.  Iceberg lettuce has no nutritional value, as  it is mostly water.  The greener the better.  You can make up larger amounts & put into small 1/2 cup portions & freeze, to feed later.  Also, find a good reptile vitamin to "salt" it's food with.  If you want more turtles, you will need 20g/turtle.  I'd stick with only box turtles as companions, but they really don't care if they live alone.  
Here are some good sites on turtles:
http://www.turtletimes.com/  http://www.turtletimes.com/market/index_store.htm  
Good luck & enjoy your turtle--it will live for around 30 years if you take good care of it!  ~PP (My name is Jeni too!)>
Thanks again, Jenni

Sad Turtle  12/1/04
Hello, again.  
<Hi, it's Pufferpunk here again>
We upgraded to a 20 gallon aquarium with
mulch and a big bowl for swimming, etc., and she
absolutely loves it, but she still won't eat.  I did
the mixture you said and she turned her nose up at it.
<Have you tried warming her up in her bowl (with warm water) before offering her food?  also, they seem to be attracts to red foods, especially earthworms).  
After two days of not eating I started to worry and
gave her some apple which she gladly accepted,
<Red foods, see?>
but even the fruit she eats only bite sized amounts (to
you or me) a day.  I've tried feeding her 2 or 3 times
a day-giving her a fresh piece of something
different-but she barely eats.  Are there any vitamin
drops that I can drop on the food I give her to keep
her healthy?  Or should I consider carrying her to a
vet?  
<I don't think a vet is necessary.  Turtles will try to hibernate in the winter. Try to keep her warm & keep offering her lots of variety, to find out what her favorite foods are.  You can buy good reptile vitamins form a pet shop.  Also, adding cod-liver oil to her food & rubbing it on her shell & legs is very good for her.  ~PP>
Thanks for all your help.
Jenni

Turtle Habitat and Pool
<Hi, Mike D here>
   I was wondering if I could bring my yellow bellied slider in the pool which has chlorine in it.<If you're asking if you can take it into your swimming pool with you, occasionally, for short periods probably wouldn't do any harm, but long term exposure to higher amounts of chlorine will eventually do eye damage and possibly cause intestinal problems as well.> I was also wondering if it was ok to have the fish rocks that are at the bottom of the fish tank in the cage with the turtle and I have one last question will my turtle be ok without having another turtle in the cage with it- can it be alone??<Regular aquarium gravel would probably be alright, with sand being a better choice, and as to keeping it alone, that often the best way for the animal to stay the healthiest, as it can't fight with other turtles over food.>
Thanks!!
please reply soon!!!! and how am I going to get your reply can you email it back to me thanks so much !!!!
PS. How deep should the water be and what should I feed him?<The depth of the water isn't overly important as long as there is a good basking space where it can easily get out to sun itself. You'll also need to invest in a good broad spectrum reptile light, aimed at the basking area only> I found him in lake Travis-- is it ok to feed him store bought food<Yes and no...there are some commercial turtle foods that are satisfactory, with the old fashioned dried insect type completely useless. Adding occasional pieces of lean fish or chicken will help, and even better, try to dust it with a good reptile calcium supplement.> and how big does the tank need to be?<That depends upon the size of the turtle. A small juvenile can be housed in a 2-5 gal. tank, with an adult animal needing an enclosure large enough to allow plenty of movement.>  Is it ok for the tank to be bare with just gravel and water or does it need something else? If using a regular aquarium, it will need a float or piece of wood large enough to allow it to get completely out of the water, thus the basking light. Keep in mind as well that reptiles need to be kept warm, with a minimum of 72 degrees f and never allowed to exceed the high 80's.> please please reply soooonnnn!!!!!!!!
thanks soo much <Michaela>

Turtle Hunger Strike
My public library children's area recently received a pair of yellow-bellied slider turtles.  They're about three years old.  The family that donated them kept them in a ten gallon tank with only about two inches of water and some gravel -- no light, no space to swim, nothing.  Their diet -- apparently the only thing that worked for them -- consisted of Tetrafauna Reptomin pellet food.  According to the family, they ate well and always got excited about their food.
We immediately filled the tank more than half full, set up a heat lamp, provided them with a dry perch, etc.    The turtles seem to love their new space and take periodic laps around the tank.  They did lots of exploring the first day, and now have picked their favorite spot on a partially submerged rock.  But after a week here, they still have not touched their food.  We're planning to introduce meat, earthworms, etc., into the their diet, and hope that will help.  But if it doesn't, what's up?  are they just traumatized by their recent move?  Again, they reportedly ate very well before.  Please advise.  Thanks!
Catherine E. Threadgill
Children's Services
Charleston County Public Library
68 Calhoun Street
Charleston, SC  29401 >>>Hello Catherine,
It's likely that you're just witnessing the effects of acclimation. Give them a few more days, and I'm sure they'll begin eating. Try to avoid disturbing them during this time if possible, as the added anxiety will prolong the fast.
Good luck
Jim<<<

House of the Turtles (turtle history)
I was in Uzmal last summer.  This is a Mayan city in Mexico that used cisterns for their water supply.  There is a temple there for the turtle.  The turtle is in the Mayan story of creation. The guide for the day said the turtles were put in the cisterns to keep the water clean.  What do you think of that? <Actually doesn't surprise me, I know they were thought to eat algae> I can not find that statement being made on any web site that talks about  the Casa de las Tortugas in Uzmal and Turtles. <Very fascinating history lesson on turtles though and something important to get out there.  Thank you so much for sharing it>
Here is one site that talks about the turtle:
http://www.isourcecom.com/maya/cities/uxmal/houseoftheturtles.htm
Thank you in advance for looking into this. <Thank you so much, MacL>
MDK
MICHAEL D. KLUBOCK

Turtle Shedding Too Much
<Hi, MikeD here>
I have a Two and a half year old female red ear slider that is shedding
a lot lately.  I have made sure the temps of the water and basking area
are adequate, being 78 degrees and 88-90 degrees respectively.<88-90 degrees F for basking...I assume this is under a full spectrum daylight bulb? I ask as they need some UV to keep fungal infections down>  I feed
her every other day with turtle pellets, some carrots or apples.
Occasionally I'll give her mill worms and have some gold fish in her
tank.  Am I feeding her too much?  Not enough variety?<It doesn't sound like too much, but I think I'd suggest leaning toward more meat/protein in the diet as these are primarily carnivorous>  Her skin comes
off in larger pieces than before, although they are still thin.  Could
it be too much chlorine and if so how do I solve that problem?<Any chlorine is too much chlorine, easily remedied by adding any one of several different dechlorination products to the water, available in the fish section of almost any pet shop. Is the water changed, filtered or otherwise cleaned? Use care as turtles were banned for sale as pets long ago due to the propensity to spread salmonella infections through their waste in the water.>  Thanks
for your help.
David

A Turtle Tank?
<Hi, Mike D here>
hey my name is Shawn and I was thinking of getting a turtle or two.
I was wondering if a 30 gallon tank would be big enough for two red ear sliders.<If gotten very young, it will suffice for 2-3 years before they'll need a larger tank. For good success you'll need a good full spectrum basking light and somewhere that they can get completely out of the water.>
                                                 thanks

Green water in turtle tank
<Hi, Mike D here>
I am sorry if you have had to answer this question already, but I am still a little lost.<no problem> I have one red eared slider that is 5-6 inches. I keep him in a 10 gallon tank.<This is too small. Does he have someplace to bask where he can get completely out of the water?> I use a Duetto 100 submersible power filter. The filter has a carbon container that I have long since disposed of and have not been able to buy another because the fish stores seem to never restock.<OK, you've moving water, but not filtering it. Without floss and carbon, all you have is water movement.> I have a sucker fish (I don't know if this is the correct name of the fish but it is what I have heard it to be called.<Probably one of the Plecostomus catfish> Either way it eats algae.) I feed my RES zoo med's aquatic turtle food once or twice every 2 weeks (is this too little?<You bet it's too little. WAY too little.> I don't want to feed it too much and have it grow too quickly.<How'd you like it if you were allowed to eat once a week so as to not get fat. My money says you would not be a happy camper, and neiotheris your turtle. That borders on cruelty, and I may be going easy on you.>) And I also sometimes give it zoo med's turtle treat (dried ocean krill)<Not a great food as it contains salt, which Slider's can't excrete.>. I have a basking light that is on for 7 hours and a UV light that is on for 8 hours. Not much direct sunlight hits the tank since I keep my blinds closed. Every time I completely change the water in the tank (every 2-3 weeks due to the greenness of it) the water will be green again within a week. Use filter floss and activated carbon and your water quality should improve. As it is, it's just stagnant and should be cleaned MUCH more often.> I read in the fish forums that the nitrate levels and stuff should be checked for this kind of question but I am not sure if this applies to turtles.<Turtles, no, fish yes.> My main questions aside from how to keep my tank water turning green are if I need the carbon stuff in my filter<Definitely>, do I need to buy algae pellets for my sucker fish so that it won't starve<The fish would be VERY appreciative, I'm sure.>, and do I need to cut back on lighting?<NO, the lighting is fine.> Thank you for whatever help you can give me.<Someone has given you really bad advice on animal care and I truly feel sorry for both the Plecostomus and the turtle. One thing animals of all types respond to is an owner that tries to treat them the way they'd like to be treated.>
~Wendy

Snapping Turtle Shell Growths (continued)
Bob, Mike ????<It's Mike D here again>   I know that algae will grow on the shell but when I saw a
white film on my snapper's head, I became concerned.<Aha! I would too, but not knowing it was white, I was at a disadvantage! **grin**>  He has always eaten
very well but seemed to not be interested anymore.  Over the aquarium I
have a Slimline Reptile Fixture with super 15 watt UV lamp (it produces
3%+ UVB and 7%+ UVA) and a Daylight Blue Reptile 60 watt bulb.<I thought you probably would have, as you didn't sound like a novice, but had to ask>  I have put
some Neosporin on his shell and rubbed it on his neck and legs.<Now there's some creative thinking, although it shouldn't have much effect if it's indeed a fungal growth, with Neosporin being for bacterial infections>  Now that
the weekend is here I will put him out in the sun for a few hours while I
am at home.<Good idea, but use care as once his body temperature hits 92 degrees it could be all over. I'm assuming that you know NEVER to sit a terrarium/aquarium in the sun as the sun's rays are magnified by the glass creating a rudimentary Dutch Oven>  He seems to be perking up a bit but still has some algae
(fungus) hanging from his neck.<You might want to consider making up a fairly strong salt bath and soaking him in it for a few minutes at a time for several days. Many true funguses are extremely sensitive to salt and might die very easily.  I'd suggest no longer than 20 minutes or so for the soaks as snappers have no regulatory mechanism for secreting excess salts>  Thanks for your help.<Best of luck and keep us posted>  --  SUE

First turtle questions 8/2/04
Tomorrow morning I'm going to go pick up my very first turtle (red eared slider).  
The guy at the pet store told me all I need was a little water and something for the little guy to crawl up out 
of the water on to.  This sounded far to simple to me.  One would think he'd me more apt to try to sell me 
several things I don't need rather than what I can scrape by with.  I've been online all day looking up information 
to ease my anxieties and make sure I can make my little turtle happy.  He's about the size of a half dollar right now, 
so I bought a 10gal. tank, figuring that should do for now.  My question arises in the lighting and heating deportment.  
What is better, a heating lamp or a submersible water heater?
< Always use a lamp and never a heater. When you heat the water it dive up the humidity in the tank and has 
been suspected to cause respiratory problems in turtles.>
Also, will a heating lamp take care of his lighting needs, or do I need a separate light?
< You need at least a incandescent light with a plant light bulb. This bulb most closely resembles sunlight>
  I plan on getting a thermometer to keep track of the temperature.  Should I place that in the water or 
near the heating lamp?
< Place it in the water as far away as possible from the lamp.>
And just one more question.  Is it alright to turn off the lighting/heating at night?
< Absolutely. Turtles need to sleep too. Make sure you thoroughly wash your hands after handling your 
turtle so you don't get sick. They have been known to carry diseases when they are kept in dirty water.-Chuck>
Thanks for your time in easing me "new mommy syndrome" anxieties.  ~Lynsey~

Turtle With Parasitic Worms
<Hi, Mike D here again>
Now I am seeing white worms coming out of the turtle's feces!<Not uncommon in wild caught turtles, but surprising in captive bred animals>  They are
about one inch or small in length and are as thin as a piece of paper.  I
got rid of the other two turtles and gave them away to friends.  Now what do
I do?  I put some Maracyn Plus medication in the tank, hoping this would
help.<This won't help at all, as that medication is for gram positive bacterial infections only>  I started that yesterday (Thursday, July 22, 2004).  My turtle is now
not eating<A very bad sign, as the ONLY way to rid it of parasitic worms is through feeding medicated foods containing a vermicide>, but is active.  This is the same one that cracked its shell<I hope his name isn't "Lucky">.
I've siphoned the tank yesterday to get rid of the worms that were there and
this morning I found more!  HELP!!!<You'll need to  check with your LFS to see what brand of vermicidal food they carry, or even better, a local Veterinarian, just as you would for a puppy or kitten with worms. What you are describing sounds like tapeworms or flukes, with the more common roundworms not flat>

Determining Sex of Juvenile Turtles
Hi!<Hi, MikeD here>  Today I purchased two adorable turtles, the size of a quarter<Those are newly hatched and often quite delicate>.  I figure
they are Painted Turtles, because of their colors<Many little turtles offered for sale are quite colorful, with the most common being the Red-eared Slider, which is green with yellow striping on the neck and one red stripe in the middle. True Painted turtles have red edging around the shell and no "red ear", but in either case, determining the sex is done the same way.>, but how can I tell whether
they are male of female?<For now this is nearly impossible. As they get larger males will develop very long "fingernails" on the front feet, while the females will remain short, the same as on the rear feet. The males "court" underwater by placing their feet in front of their face and waving these long front claws. Another method is by "probing" to locate the hemipenises (they have two each), but this again ought to be done when they are larger and by a professional, as it entails risk of serious injury if done incorrectly>  I would really like to know, please answer back.  
Thank you,<You're very welcome>
Melissa C.R.

Baby Turtle Questions
<Hi, MikeD here>
We bought two little turtles at a flea market about a week ago.  Their shells are about 1" - 1½" in diameter.<It's that time of year>  The guy who sold them to us had them in a tiny little plastic aquarium with barely any water.  Anyway, when we got home I searched the internet to find out how to take care of them, and found out it's illegal to sell them that small.<Yes and no. As pets yes, with many using the loophole "for educational purposes only>  We think they are red eared sliders, because of the spot behind their eyes. It's not really red though, more like peach.  Does the shade indicate their health, or does it get more red as they get older?<The amount of red varies, actually being pink or yellow in some cases, with there being several closely related sliders>  We got them a glass aquarium, filter, heat lamp, floating island, and turtle food from the pet store.  The aquarium is like a regular sized fish tank, 20 gallons I guess.  How long will it be before they need a bigger tank?<That depends on how much you feed them, what you feed them, etc.>  Also, I have only seen one of the turtles eat, and am worried that the other is not eating.<It may not be feeding. They often get "soft shell" from not being able to get out of the water enough, as well as fungus and other ailments as well>  I've read the long lists on the internet of foods you are supposed to get for your turtle, are the instructions/recommendations any different for turtles this small? <Just make sure they can easily get out of the water and that you have a full spectrum "daylight" herp bulb. Feeding meaty foods can be helpful as well, but use caution as this is why it's technically illegal to sell them, as salmonella bacteria flourish in the water>  The turtle that I saw eat seems a lot more active and even smarter than the other one.  Do turtles have different "personalities" or is the second turtle not as healthy?<This could be either or both. If #2 isn't eating, it's likely ill>  Should we report the guy who sold them to us?  Who would we report him too? You can file a complaint with your local state's fish and wildlife dept. and/or the better business bureau if you wish>
Thank you,
Rebekah

How Do I Know if my Turtles Babies are Still Alive
my turtle just laid eggs and I don't know if there is some thing in there or not or if she is going to have more babies help
< Take the eggs out of the water and bury them in a potting soil vermiculite mixture and incubate them at a constant 80 degrees if you can. You will be able to tell in a couple of weeks if the eggs are good or not. Keep the soil moist but not wet and you may have baby turtles in a couple of months. -Chuck>

Small turtle my cat brought home
hi<Hi, MikeD here> I was wondering if you could help? First my cat brought home a very small
turtle slightly bigger than a quarter amazingly it was and is still alive. I
have tried to find out it's type. we are in Maine, the small critter has an
almost rounded dark shell, with an orangey/yellow bottom shell. the back legs have
red stripes and the front legs as well as the throat area has yellow stripes and
nothing on top but two small yellow dots on either side of its head.< Most likely it's an Eastern Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta>there are
several ponds miles down the dirt road. I am sure the bass one of which I
caught (4lbs) would enjoy this little critter as a snack.<They would!>I have decided to try
and keep it as I love turtles and am willing to spend what it needs for its
care. The way I see it I already have 18 pets what's one more! Do you have an idea
as to what kind it could be?<See above, Eastern Painted turtle>any special care tips?<To do it right you need a small aquarium,50%water/50% land and a good herp light. Herp vitamins/calcium help too> thank you for your help my
e-mail address is XXXX@aol.com if you would be kind enough to respond
there. thanks again<You're welcome. Hope it helps a little> Marcee

Algae in Turtle Tank
I have 2 aquariums with red eared slider turtles. I use a Fluval 204 canister filter for both aquariums.
<Excellent choice, canisters are great for turtle tanks.>
Within the last couple of months, there has been a lot of algae growing on the floating islands that they use to bask on. I have completely cleaned the aquariums and within 4 or 5 days, the algae is back.
<Depending upon how complete your "completely cleaned" is, you may be working against yourself by getting rid of beneficial bacteria, large partial water changes are the way to go.>
Is there anything that I can use to put in the water or media that can be put in the filter that won't harm the turtles?
<I am just not a big believer in using products to adjust the conditions of my tank, especially if I am going to become dependent upon them, it is too expensive and unnecessary. If you are not using carbon in your filters, I would recommend adding this. It is best to get to the root of the problem.>
I have had these aquariums for about a year and have just started having the problem. One aquarium is near a window, but the other one isn't, so I don't think that sunlight is a factor. Also, there is an oily film along the top of the water in one aquarium. I have started to feed them dehydrated shrimp, which they love. Please help.
<The first question is, what changes have you made to your husbandry recently that may be causing the problem? A change in food? Maybe this food is adding more nutrients to help the algae grow? A change to your lighting, old bulbs? Turtles are messy, especially as they get older, water quality will definitely play a role in algae blooms. You could try algae eating fish, but they may end up as expensive turtle food. You could try changing their diet, or your feeding regime, making sure that all food is being consumed. There are all kinds of algae destroying products on the market, but personally I would not use any of them. You may find that a little scrub down of the tank decorations is just part of your weekly maintenance. I actually like a little algae, it gives the tank that "lived in" look. Check out the link below for more info on battling algae. Best Regards, Gage
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwalgcontrol.htm >

Turtle Problem
My friends neighbor had 2 turtles. About the size slightly smaller than a quarter. He kept them in a cage much to small with filthy water no food for a week, no light, and kept them outside. Due to there poor nutrition and surroundings one died, I have the other now and I think he is OK, but his shell is growing in an odd shape and it is hard to get him to feed, I was worried and put him in his own tank just in case he had something that could spread to my healthy turtles. Is this OK, is he going to be OK, what about his shell??? Rachel
<<Dear Rachel, the shell problem sounds like a vitamin deficiency, probably due to the previous bad diet your turtle has had. Try to feed him vitamin enriched foods, e.g. soak his pellets in Selcon, (available from your LFS) or try to find a store near you that specializes in reptiles, and pick up some vitamins for reptiles from them, maybe also you can find him some live food, most reptile places sell all kinds of worms, larvae, etc. But make sure he keeps getting the pellets soaked in vitamins, and keep his water as clean as possible. I am no expert on turtle diseases, so if you find a good reptile store, they can look at him for you and give you some advice. In the meantime, keep him in his own tank! He sounds healthy, though, but get a second opinion from someone who can actually see him...by the way, you are doing a wonderful thing for this poor little guy. Good luck! -Gwen>> 

Turtle Tank Basking Light 
Thank for the info! Right now I am not sure whether I'm going to buy a 20gal or a 12gal. 
<Go for the 20, preferable a 20gal long.> 
The 12 gal has all the lighting and everything included, but I probably will get the 20gal. Do I need a basking light if I have a water heater and fluorescent lights? 
<Yes, the turtle will need to climb out of the water to bask and dry off, this helps prevent infections and rot and other nasties. Best Regards, Gage> 
I was going to get a basking light just in case but I want to be sure. Thanks again! -Sarah

Aquatic Turtles
Hey!  Okay, I know that there have already been a lot of questions about feeding the turtles, but I'd like to ask again.  See my little brother got a painted turtle a little less than a year ago, and it would never eat so we always had to force feed it with pellets, which requires a lot of patience and work!  Then that turtle just died (didn't last too long like most the others do...are we doing something wrong... we have dry land, water which we change every day at least every other day, rocks, and heat??) and it was devastating for my little brother, so we bought a new turtle.  This one is the red-ear which we currently have.  We got it about 10 days ago and it's still pretty young. I'm not sure how old, but it's not a baby and not an adult!!  But anyway, it hardly moves around like our other turtle did.  It just sits on a rock all day and barely moves around even when we put it in the water.  Also, it won't eat like the other turtle.  It also won't open it's eyes which were swollen so we gave it vitamin A drops. can you give it too much vitamin A?  Anyway, I'm afraid that it's starting to die, and we just got it.  It would really be a very traumatic event to go through that again with my little brother, so if there is any way that you can help me, it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much, Becca!
<Hey Becca, sounds like your turtle needs to go see a veterinarian, I would not risk home treatments at this point, it sounds like your turtle is going downhill.  The Painted Turtle and the Red Eared Sliders are both aquatic turtles, you want their environment to be primarily water with a small area for basking, these turtles eat while they are in the water, they will come up to the land to grab food, but will pull it back into the water.  Care for these guys is not too difficult, filtered and heated water, around 78 degrees F, a small area of land to allow them to get out of the water if the want to.  Above the land area you will want to mount a light for basking.  We have an article on the care of Red Eared Sliders at the link below.  Best of Luck, and take your turtle to a vet, this sounds serious, Gage
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/redearsliders.htm  >

Sick Turtle
Hey Gage!  It's me, Becca, again!
<Hey Becca!>
Thank-you very much for responding back to me.  I really appreciate it, but I live in a small town and there is not a vet clinic for turtles.
<Time for you to open one?  Just kiddin.>
They only do cats and dogs, but we did bring it down to the pet place we bought it from, and they are going to keep her for a week or so and try to help us.
<That is good of them.>
My question though is that I was reading in a book that if turtles have swollen eyes, are blowing bubbles out of their nose, and are breathing through their mouth, they may have a respiratory ailment.  Is this true, and if so, do you have any idea how we can fix this problem, or is it something that only  a vet can do?
<Those are the symptoms of a respiratory ailment alright.  There is a good chance that he is going to need some antibiotics, and for that I think you would need a vet, but I am not positive, I have not had to treat many respiratory infections in my turtles.  Ensuring that your husbandry is top notch and his environment is ideal, there is a chance that he could come around on his own.  Read through the articles below for more information on how to best care for your turtle, the last two links are to reptile discussion forums, I strongly recommend posting your problem on one of these sites for information on how to treat this ailment.  You might also use Google.com to search for more reptile discussion boards.  
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/redearsliders.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/aquatic.html
http://www.petreptiles.com/board/
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php  >
If you could help me out once again, it'd be great!  Thanks so much.  I really appreciate your help,   Becca
<Please let me know how it goes and if I be of any further assistance.  Best of luck, Gage.>

Side Neck Turtle Incubation
We have a side neck turtle that has laid eggs and we have put them in a Tupperware bowl with Vermiculite with a little warm water, we are going to put a light over them, but we don't know anything else......PLEASE help us, give us any source of info we can use
Thanks Kristi
<Hey Kristi,  I have never incubated turtle eggs myself, I would start with the articles at the link below and see if you can pick up a book specific to Side Neck Turtles for specific information on temperature and what not.  Best Regards, Gage
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/articles.html#breeding  >

Turtle Mixes
Is it ok for a snapper turtle and a red eared slider to be together  in the same tank?
<Not a good idea, you would need a huge tank for the snapper, and there is a good chance that your slider could get hurt.  Best Regards, Gage>

Crusty Turtle
Hi,
    My turtle is about a couple years old, and he recently developed a crust on the side of his head.  Other sources have told me that it is an inner ear infection.  Is this extremely serious?  Even so what can I do so this infection will go away, and what can I do to make sure it doesn't come back?
<It does sound like it could be an infection, and the mucus is hardening into a crust.  I would definitely call a good reptile vet to be safe.  The best way to prevent problems in the future is through good husbandry, clean water is very important.  Best Regards, Gage>

Painted Turtle Shedding
I have 2 young painted turtles in about a some where between 20-30 gallon tank. well our oldest about 1 year's feet are shedding as so my dad says. we do not know how to cure it we have looked every were so you are our last person to  turn to. And I have another question how do you tell the difference between a male and female painted turtle?
<It is pretty normal for turtles to shed, I would not worry too much.  Focus on proper husbandry, clean water, correct temperature, and a good diet, I am sure your turtles will be fine.  The males will have much longer toe nails than the females, the underside of the males shell (plastron) will be more concave than the females as well.  Best Regards, Gage>

Swollen Eyed Turtle
Dear Sir;
I am trying to locate Turtle Eye Clear (Vitamin Prep.) for my daughter's turtle. Can you help me? I have tried to clear up the turtle's puffy eye with Nature Zone Turtle Eye Drops, but it is not working. We have used Turtle Eye Clear in the past and it works great!
<Hi Michele, I was able to locate the product on Petsmart's a quick search on the Internet should give you more results.  If the problem keeps reoccurring you might want to investigate the cause of the problem.   Best Regards, Gage
http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_11701.shtml  >
Sincerely,  Michelle Hanson

Turtle Food 1/11/04
WWM Crew.
<Hi, Pufferpunk here>
Please can you tell me the best food for my turtles I have 1 painted (2 months) old and 2 yellow bellies (3 months).
I live in the UK and food seems to be frozen bloodworms, frozen daphnia and frozen turtle food.
I would like to give them a good diet.
<I have an African Sideneck, Asian map & soft-shell turtle (in addition to 6 box turtles).  They eat cut-up pieces of fish, squid, shrimp, turtle & cichlid pellets, earthworms & crickets.  Make sure to use reptile vitamins w/calcium on their food, at least 1x/week.>  
Thank you for your time.  Damon
<You're welcome--Pufferpunk>

Ich Meds and Turtles
I have a red eared slider and a goldfish in the same tank.  I believe that the fish has ick and I bought Ick away medicine for the tank.  I was wondering if it is safe to use with the turtle still in the tank?  Thanks
<I am not sure what the ingredients are in the this product, but it would be best to treat the fish in a separate tank.  The manufacturer of the product might have a number listed on the bottle or possibly a web site with a way to contact them to inquire if their product is safe to use with turtles.  Best Regards, Gage>
Jessica Maxcy

Water temp too warm on water change
Hi,
I need some answers quickly to this question?
I have 2 red ear sliders that are about 1 year old.
I was changing the water in their tank this evening.   I'm afraid that I may have killed them because the water may have been too warm or hot?   I can't tell because I forgot to test the water's temperature.
when I had them in the water, they were both swimming around very frantically and I didn't think anything of it since that seemed normal whenever I moved them into the temp container while I washed the tank.   but, they both stopped moving suddenly and have not moved for at least an hour:
Nothing seems to affect them right now. Their heads are shrunk in towards the shell but, still outside of the shell and visible.   The eyes are closed.   All four legs are pointing outwards but, no sign of movement at all
Please advise??
Thank You!!
<Hello, I am really sorry to hear this.  If the water was too hot it is possible that they were killed.  The best thing to do would be to restore the water to the temperature that they were used to and see if they come around.  If you pick them up you could try to see if you can hear them breathing, also a light poke behind the legs with your finger, or anywhere under the shell that they would normally defend should get some reaction out of them.  Best of luck, Gage>

Turtle Feeding
Hi, I just got a pair of hatchling yellow bellied sliders about a week and a half ago.  They are about 1 and 1/2 inch in length.  I am feeding them Zoo Med's Hatchling Aquatic Turtle Food about once a day and they don't seem to be eating.  This is what the man I bought them from suggested I feed them.  On the first day I got them I fed them and they seemed to eat a little bit but now I don't ever see them eat the food.  I have tried removing them from their habitat and putting them in their own separate containers with the food for about an hour an still nothing.  Do you think it is just me or do I have a problem?  Please let me know.   Thanks!
~ Jenn
<Hi Jenn, I would give them a chance to adjust to their new surroundings and offer a variety of foods, make sure their temperature is warm. Check out the link below, for similar issues, I am sure they will come around.  Best Regards, Gage
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/sliderfaqs.htm >

Winter and Red Eared Slider
I really need to know if I can leave my red eared sliders out side in the winter or not. I have a little pond outside that they can live in. I have a heater for the pond so it won't freeze.   I keep gold fish in it and they stay alive.  I have it all fenced in so they can't get hurt by any animals. They also have land to go onto so they can be on land if they need to.  please help
<It really depends on where you live.  If it gets cold enough they should bury themselves at the bottom of your pond and go into hibernation.  I personally would move them inside, I have never hibernated a turtle or tortoise and if I were going to try it I would like to be in control of the conditions.  Check out the links below to help with your decision.  Best Regards, Gage
http://www.anapsid.org/hibernation.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Refrigerator.htm  >

Turtle Eggs
I have a question about freshwater turtle eggs.  How can
you tell if the eggs the turtle lays are good or bad? And how long before the hatch? Thanks for your time.
<It depends on the turtle, I am going to assume a pond slider of sorts.  If you have a male and a female who performed the mating rituals (as opposed to a lone female), chances are you have good eggs.  Fuzzy eggs are bad.  You will want to keep the eggs moist and warm, mid to upper 80s.  Best of luck, Gage>

Turtle Hibernation
Regarding hibernation, we live in the Houston, TX area, where the
temperature rarely drops in the 20's. the kiddie pool is only 9 inches high, so am I right in saying its not suitable for hibernation of my turtle? my family does not plan on bringing inside for the winter, so can I just hibernate it in a 14 inch high bucket that we have that's wide enough for her to fit in with an inch or so at least the whole way around extra? after all,
she doesn't need any room for movement, just a deep hibernating spot, right? I just want to know if the bucket is deep enough for her to hibernate safely at 14 inches or if its too shallow.
thank you
<I have no experience hibernating turtles,  I do not know if the bucket technique is a good idea, sounds like it will be hard to regulate the temperature.  There is a good article at the link below on hibernating turtles in the refrigerator.  I would get a good book that thoroughly covers hibernation before trying it.  Best Regards, Gage. http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Refrigerator.htm   >

Pregnant Turtle?
Hi a month ago a turtle wandered into our flower bed in our front yard. she's a red ear slider, and her shell length is approx. 12 ". since this is the first time I've ever had a turtle I have been on the internet almost everyday since looking for information about how I should care for her, etc. The only problem is that many of the websites say one thing, and another says something completely different.
<Everyone has their opinions, and there is more than one way to keep a turtle.>
I got a kiddie pool, left it outside next to my house, and put some bricks in so they just peeked out of the water in order for her to bask. there's no filter at this time, so I change the water every 2 or 3 days.
<I would do partial water changes, and look into getting a filter.  Also, depending upon where you live, she will need to be housed indoors for the winter.>
I read that red ear sliders mate in the spring and lay their eggs in the summer. is this true?
<From what I read, the breeding season is March-July.>
also, how do I know if she is pregnant?
<I do not have much experience in the breeding department.  As far as I know, the female will start to eat less, and become very active looking for a nesting spot.  I cannot find my turtle book right now.>  
she's obviously mature enough to have mated in the spring. the nearest body of water to my house is 100 yards away, so she may have come to land in search of a nesting ground. if she is pregnant, I read that you should put the eggs in a container half buried in moist vermiculite. why is this?
<First you need to put in some soil for her to dig a nest and lay her eggs.  Then excavate them and move them to a separate container for incubation.  The moist vermiculite helps to insulate the eggs and keep them moist.>
cant I just use moist, shredded newspaper or paper towels instead?
<I am not sure, I would just go with the vermiculite.>
and what temperature do the eggs have to be in?
<High 70s to mid 80s.>
none of the websites have said the same thing. It would be really really awesome if there were eggs.
<Better yet, babies.  I strongly recommend a good book on slider husbandry, if she is pregnant, you have to worry about her laying the eggs and not becoming egg-bound, then if she does lay them you will have to incubate them, and if they hatch successfully, you will need to raise them.  ugh, I get tired just thinking about it.  I would also find a good reptile vet in the area.  The link below is to a care sheet on Melissa Kaplan's site, she knows her stuff.  Best of Luck, Gage http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html >
Please help!
thank you!
-new turtle owner

Is my turtle pregnant?
ok I promise this will be the last time I ask anymore questions lol... first of all, my res has been acting very strangely over the past two days. since yesterday, she kept trying to get out of her kiddie pool. I mean, very very frantically trying to get out, like she was going to dye if she didn't. after watching her all morning, after lunch I went to a small area of my lawn that's behind my house where the grass had all died and was replaced by
dollar weeds and moss. I spent about half an hour clearing the weeds and stuff away and put them in a pile. next, I dug a few inches into the 'deweeded' area and thoroughly turned the dirt around. the dirt was mostly sand with chunks of clay mingled in. I crushed the clay, fenced off the area with some wood and bricks and whatever I could find, then put my turtle in the area. the deweeded area is 4'x5', with a few inches of weeds surrounding. I spent the whole afternoon sitting by a window overlooking the
area, but in vain, because the turtle did nothing but try to escape. of course the fence stopped her, and she flipped over on her back a few times (then got upright again by digging her head into the sand and pushing), but NO NEST DIGGING. I don't understand. the sand is moist enough to dig in, the clay is no problem at all since I crumbled it up, but no digging! so I put the turtle back in the pool after 4 hours of waiting, but then she started to frantically try to get out again. this morning I put her back in the area, misting it slightly first, but after all these hours she has done nothing but try to escape. what am I supposed to do?????? if I leave her in the kiddie pool, she tries to get out like a dog is going to maul her, but when I put her in a nesting spot, all she does is try to get away. its getting a bit frustrating, and I will be glad for ANY help or advice whatsoever.
I have tried palpating her in the area right in front of her hind legs, but feel nothing by the way, her shell isn't 12 inches long, sorry. its about 8 or 9 inches long
thank you
<Hmm.  It sounds like she is either not pregnant and just acting crazy, or maybe she is not ready yet.  I would try incorporate both the land and the water in her enclosure maybe with a sort of A Frame or something going over the side of the kiddy pool so the turtle can come and go as she pleases.  The land area will need to be fenced in of course. Best Regards, Gage>

Slider Love
Hello I have two red-eared sliders--a male and female who have co-habited in a 75 gallon aquarium for three years with no problems. HOWEVER in the last few weeks they have become very hostile to each other--he often tries to engage her in mating but she will respond by attacking him and then he attacks her (biting mostly) to the point where I have had to pry them apart--no serious injuries have occurred and I have tried to take them each out of the tank for several hours to give them alone time....will this end? is this normal behavior? what can I do to stop it? Is buying a separate tank my only option? Thanks for your help
Louise
<Hi Louise, I have never tried breeding sliders, so I am not familiar with their breeding behavior.  From what I have read it sounds like he is feeling frisky and she does not want any part of it, and this is when the aggression starts.  The link below is to the first site I found that mentions breeding, the sites I check out after that all seem to have identical information.
http://reslider.free.fr/breeding.html
I would see if I could find a good discussion forum to see if anyone else has had a similar experience, chances are that many have.  I found a forum on turtletimes.com
http://www.turtletimes.com/
I would start there.  If the aggression gets too bad or one gets seriously wounded, I would definitely separate them.  Best of luck, let us know how it turns out or if we can be of further assistance. -Gage>

Red Eared Sliders Head turned white
Hello.. I recently acquired 2 Red Eared Sliders...and have had them for a couple of weeks...they have been eating very good and their tank is set up properly.....but I when I woke up today I noticed that one of the RES head has turned a white color....and the other's head looks like it is doing the same....is this what it looks like when they shed.......or is this a serious problem?
Please let me know anything u can think about. thanks...Marty
<This is a new one on me Marty, I have not heard of their heads turning white.  I would need more information on the housing and feeding and a picture to start guessing.  Check out the link below to see if your turts are showing any other symptoms.  A checkup with a good reptile vet could not hurt either.  Best Regards, Gage
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html  >

Aquatic Turtle Care
I have 2 yellow bellied sliders.  I am contemplating putting them in an outdoor pond.  We live near the Virginia coast and I wonder How to set up this pond (supplies, plants, etc.).   Also, can they stay out there year around?
<I do not keep my turtle outside because of the predators, but outdoors is definitely best for them if you can meet all of their requirements.  The link below is to an article on ponds for turtles, it should be a good place to start.
http://www.tortoise.org/general/pondmak.html>
What kind of plants do I have to have in order to make a outside pen for them?
<most pond plants should be fine>
And what kind of foods do they eat beside night crawlers and lettuces? And where do I find powder vitamins and calcium's to sprinkle on their foods?
<Here is a good article on feeding aquatic turtles
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/aquaticdiet.htm
If you have a local reptile shop you can get the vitamins from them, or from an etailer like our wonderful sponsor http://www.drsfostersmith.com/ Best Regards, Gage>
  Thanks  Julia Rk

Turtle Buddies
Are there any other aquatic animals that can safely cohabitate with a larger
turtle (in our case a pacific pond turtle)?
<Not that I can think of off the top of my head, feeder goldfish have been known to last a little while, but eventually get eaten, I imagine a crawfish would make a nice snack, frogs or newts would be lunch.  You could try a very fast durable fish, something that can put up with less than perfect water quality.  I had some Giant Danios spawn in one of my turtle tanks once, ended up eating all the fry, but the adults survived with the turtle for a while.  A few years down the road I figured I'd try the Giant Danios with the same type of turtle, they where all eaten within a week.  So, fast, durable, forgiving fish, with good cover, and you may be able to pull it off, but I would not recommend it. -Gage>

Aquarium cleaning
Can an aquarium once used for a reptile be used for fish?
<Sure, as long as it is an aquarium that was made to hold water, and not a reptile tank that looks like an aquarium, but will eventually blow up if filled with water.  Be sure to clean the tank well, 1cup bleach in 5gal of water is a good cleaning solution. -Gage>

Filtration Questions, stocking mixed "ponds"
Hi,
I inherited a 135 gallon aquarium from a friend about a year ago.  
Originally, I had the tank separated in half with Plexiglas with one side being land and the other water - for two yellow belly turtles.  After a short while I got a number of other animals for the aquaterrarium like a clawed water frog and a small variety of fish.  At the time the center barrier was 8 inches high and contained roughly 20 gallons of water.  I bought a Fluval 2Plus filter for the tank which seemed to work well and I changed 50% of the water once a month.  However, as I've gotten a few more fish and raised the water level to 12 inches, I've had some problems.  The water isn't filtering well enough (obviously since it now exceeds the specifications for the Fluval 2plus by about 10 to 15 gallons) it is discolored (kind of green/brownish) and I have to change part of the water 3 or more times a month to keep it looking ok.  I've even added algae-eaters and snails to help, but with little avail.  I haven't lost any fish or turtles yet and don't want to so I'm looking for some answers.
<These filters are rated using an accepted level of stocking to determine their "per gallon" capacity. IOW, it is very easy to overstock a given volume of water to the point that the water and filter are overwhelmed. You are there my friend. Fish and turtles together can be a tremendous mess, the algae is from overloaded wastes. Consuming the byproduct doesn't address the cause, overstocking, poor filtration, more as addressed below...>
I did receive with the aquarium a Fluval 403 model canister filter containing a ceramic, foam, and charcoal for filter medias, but I do not have any instructions for setup or use (do you know where I might obtain some?) and I am not sure if that would be appropriate or not for my tank.
<Go to the Fluval website to obtain this. I would use it in addition to the 2 plus.>
I use tap water when I fill the tank, and have tried both Biosafe and Stresscoat water purifier/conditioners -- should I be worried about any toxins those may not take care of? If so, what might be a simple and inexpensive solution?
<Yes, be concerned with chlorine, chloramine (both will kill your fish/bio-filter capacity/etc.) and possible wastes that contribute to algae (ammonia, phosphate, etc.) A complete water test at your Local Fish Store is a good idea.>
I'm also curious whether you think my 100 watt heater is sufficient for my tank I believe it is about 30 to 35 gallons of water.
<If this is the actual volume, it is okay.>
I appreciate any help you can provide and any comments or suggestions above and beyond answering my questions.
<Yes, please read the pond and freshwater questions at WetWebMedia.com esp. on filtration, the nitrogen cycle, stocking. I hope this gets you pointed in the right direction. Craig>

Red Ear Slider Shell Peeling
I have a new RES, and I had noticed that it had a bit of fungus, I spoke to a reptile specialist at the pet store, and he said that it was due to her swimming all the time, and not being out of the water.  Also, after I started having her bask for about an hour a day, I noticed that a very thin layer of her shell is peeling off.  I have searched and searched to find an answer, but I was wondering if it was due to her growing, or if it was part of her shell rot, and if there is anything that I can do besides what I am already doing?  Thanks a lot
Cassie Hintz
<Hi Cassie, the shedding of shell scutes is normal, it usually comes off in individual pieces.  You want to make sure that your turtle is getting out of the water to bask to allow its shell to dry out.  I have found that tortoisetrus.com has some good information on RES care.  Best Regards, Gage>

Ninja Turtle Rocks! and other turtle banter.
Hello, my name is William and I love the site, it rocks hardcore.
<Sweet>
I have recently purchased a red eared slider turtle for my girlfriend for valentine's day, what better way of telling a person you love them by purchasing a known carrier of disease,
<She is a lucky lady.>
that she promptly named Ninja.  Ever since the purchase of the feisty little guy I have turned into a turtle fanatic.  Ninja displays such a charismatic personality it makes me wish I was a turtle. After an unfortunate attempt with a laundry basket and a duct tape, I came to the conclusion that this dream will never come to be.
<I have a hard time getting the webs between my fingers and toes to grow, once that is done I will work on growing a shell.>
Anywho, let me get down to business.  I was curious as to what type of bottom we should use for the little guy.  She currently uses some glittery over-sized plastic shells purchased from a fish supply store.  While this makes Ninja appear less masculine, he seems to have fun running into a big bunch of them and watching them jump around the tank, almost like a big pile of autumn leaves.
<As he matures he may want a more masculine substrate for fear that the rest of the ninja turtles will make fun of him.>
Would it be better to use a sandy bottom for the little guy?  Also what type of feeder fish would be best for Ninja?  I breed guppies to feed my Oscars, would these be all right for Ninja or would goldfish be better?  Thank you.  And remember,  turtles rock ninja style!
<You got that right, but honestly, I prefer bare bottoms.  You can use what ever substrate you like, I keep the bottom of my turtle tanks bare for easy cleanup.  I have also heard of sliders ingesting gravel (it usually passes).  A variety of food will be best, guppies, Jiminy crickets, earth worm Jim, super worms, prepared turtle pellets, salad greens, and the occasional snail.  Check out the link below for more chelonian fun
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html
Rock on Brother- Gage>

Aquatic Turtles
I wanted to know if Accu-clear is safe to use with aquatic turtles such as red ear sliders. thanks
<I'm not sure, I have never used the product, are there any warnings on the label such as "may cause aquatic turtles to explode"?  Is there a contact number or address on the label?  What are the listed ingredients.  Let us know, maybe we could get to the bottom of the water clarity problems as well.  -Gage>

Red Eared Sliders
I have 3 small red ear sliders that are being grown out in an aquarium till their big enough for the pond.  I also have them housed with koi about the same size.  I just noticed today that the koi have ick, they apparently have had it for some time, I didn't notice until I really looked, will this effect the turtles?   I quarantined the koi but am wondering if the turtles will be ok?  thanks for any help.
<I would drain and clean the tank that the turtles are in, they should be fine.  I would however keep the koi separate from the turtles, turtles are super messy and keeping good water quality will be difficult.  Could be what caused the koi to be susceptible to the ick?  They link below has some good info on RES husbandry.  Best Regards, Gage
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/res.html >

Red Eared Slider hibernation
Hello, my name is Kristen, <Hi Kristen, Gage here.> my concern with my turtle "Baby Ben Franklin" is that he has something over his eyes.  Now I got the turtle from my b/f's aunt and she said she has raised turtle's all her life and what it is is a protective cover because he is in hibernation she says. Now whatever is over the turtles eye does not look infected or swollen or anything but I have not found a place that has said anything about when turtles go into hibernation that they should get a protective shield over their eyes. Now is this something normal, have you ever heard of something like this, or is there something wrong w/ my RES eye's?
<hmm..., I am not familiar with this, but I also have never had a hibernating RES.>
Also, if in hibernation when do they come out, do they sleep in water while in hibernation?
<In captivity hibernation can be controlled by the temperature.&