Generally we just rehome dogs - but every now & then another animal needs our help.
2 Red Eared Slider Turtles needing a new home.
These Turtles can be kept in an indoor tank of a suitable size, but also do very
well in outdoor ponds, and lets face it that has to be a preferable habitat!
However an outdoor pond needs to be purpose built. You will find some useful suggestions here;
http://www.exoticwaterscapes.com/turtle.php
Some general information about keeping turtles
Indoor Housing
The biggest problem people don't realise is that these little reptiles have fairly
sophisticated housing requirements. For younger, smaller specimens, a 10-gallon tank
is the minimum; as the turtles grow and mature, a twenty-gallon tank or even larger
is highly recommended. Don't forget that a larger tank will provide more room for
swimming and basking and will therefore need less cleaning.
The tank needs to contain at least 6 inches of water (deep enough for the turtle
to flip over if necessary) and also have an elevated area when the turtle can bask,
completely dry from the water. This can be as simple as a pile of aquarium gravel
or smooth rocks at one end of the tank, although pet stores will sell other manufactured
alternatives. If you have more than one turtle, make sure that the basking area is
large enough to accommodate them all simultaneously.
Filtration is an extremely important requirement as turtles are very messy creatures
and produce a copious amount of waste. Canister filters are ideal and it is always
better to go for something slightly larger than your needs than something which may
turn out to be inadequate.
Regular cleaning of the tank is vital to keeping the turtle healthy (and this is
the area most people fall down on); by the time the water in the tank turns cloudy
or starts to smell, it is too late! It is also important to drain a third of the
tank water regularly and replace it with fresh, de-chlorinated water of the same
temperature. In addition, keep an eye on the tank itself, the basking area and any
other objects inside the tank as these need to be thoroughly scrubbed whenever grime
begins to accumulate.
Heat & Light
Like all reptiles, turtles need to be provided with an artificial heat source and
ideally should be kept at a constant ambient temperature of between 68-80 degrees
F all year round. As turtles hibernate, any temperature lower than this range may
cause it to stop feeding and prepare for hibernation. The best choice is a submersible
water heater (with a thermometer installed in the water to monitor temperature).
Further basking heat can be provided by installing a heat lamp above the elevated
area. Aside from heat, turtles need to have regular exposure to UV light in order
to manufacture Vitamin D and prevent metabolic bone diseases. If you cannot provide
enough strong, direct sunlight, this may need to come via special fluorescent bulbs.
Feeding
Most turtles are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet. Thus commercial turtle foods
on their own may be insufficient. It should be supplemented with raw fish, insects,
worms and aquatic plants although try to avoid foods which rapidly decompose in water
and always remove uneaten food promptly. It is recommended that turtles be fed in
a separate plastic container (e.g. cat litter tray filled with water) as they are
extremely messy eaters and this will help to contain the mess as well as reduce the
need for frequent tank cleaning. This also allows you to monitor your turtle's food
intake. Turtles like routine and so should be fed according to a schedule. Also,
unlike many other reptiles, turtles can become obese if given too much food and thus
need to be monitored for their own health.
Turtles & Children
Despite their traditional popularity as pets for children, turtles are not actually
a good choice of pet for kids. Not only do most children not have the ability or
inclination to provide the necessary level of care and cleaning a turtle needs, they
also do not understand the need for careful hygiene. This is an important issue as
turtles, even healthy specimens, can harbour the Salmonella bacteria which is easily
transmitted to children through handling and can cause serious illness, even death
in very young children. While the risk is easily minimised with good hygiene practices,
such as washing hands with warm, soapy water immediately after any contact with a
turtle or turtle tank, it is still not advisable for children to keep turtles without
adult supervision.
While it may all seem like a lot of work and hassle, turtles can make wonderful,
rewarding pets in the right hands.
This pair are in South Wales, not far from the Sanctuary. If you are interested in
offering them a permanent home please contact us at:- rehoming.lizziesbarn@googlemail.com
Or call Fionna on 07976 538588
