Hex set up

I like the way the set up looks, but I don't it is really good for a res of that size or any turtle for that matter.

that is torture!!!! Get him out of there A.S.A.P.
if you plan on keeping just that single Red ear slider I would suggest you get at least a 40 gallon (breeder) tank. Along with that you should get a nice canister filter and also Reptisun 5.0 light. Those are the keys to your turtles survival.

I appreciate the concern. The tank is a 65 gallon one. It's not small, and he enjoys the room to swim.
I'll look into lighting. I've had him less than two months and was given the set-up by a friend who moved to Belize.

65 gallons would be good if it were a normal tank. A turtle does need some room to swim vertically, but more important he needs room to swim laterally. Also, I can't really tell by the pic but it doesn't look like your RES has anywhere to climb out of the water to bask. Basking is almost as important as having room to swim. Please, for the sake of you animal give him the proper setup. If you don't he will get sick and he may even die. If you need help check out the forums, they are a wealth of imformation.

Dude that is crazy to have him in there.
I would definately upgrade to a long aquarium like a 40 gallon breeder tank. That would be the best thing for the turtle.
check out this site
"http://pub48.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=4044691911&cpv=1"


Kyle

Not only is that tank woefully inadaquate for a turtle, it looks like you are filtering it with just a little fluval 2 submersable filter. I use one of those just to help circulate my tank, but I have a giant filter working in cunjuction. Do your turtle a favor and get him out of that hex tank!

I feel the same way as the others, was just trying to be nice. Your turtle needs a tank that is long, not tall. It is very important. If you can't afford a new tank, you can always get a rubbermaid tub from walmart, target, kmart...or whatever you have where you live.

I'm not really sure why it is more important for him to be able to swim horizontally as opposed to vertically.
I have heard nothing of this before. Turtles can breath under water, no?
I know some people who think 6" of water in a long tank is okay, however there is no way the RES would get nearly enough exercise. He has a good basking area and places to hide behind the rocks.

I'm looking into filters and other accessories (I'm having problems with lighting) though I don't think a new tank is viable and I don't think a PVC bin from Walmart will do the trick.

Once this Canadian winter is over he'll get lots of time to play outside. For now he gets weekly playtime in the bath when his water is changed.

What is so bad about the current filter? I can't tell from your tone whether it's really a neccessity to change the filter or you just think a top of the line system is the only way to go.

what pvc bin? I am talking about a rubbermaid storage tub. They need to be able to swim out, not just up and down. They need exercise and a horizontal tank will not give that to your turtle. Here is a website that will tell you all you need to know to take really good care of your turtle: www.autsinsturtlepage.com

and play time in a bath tub every once in a while isn't good enough. What do you mean that you will put him outside? Do you have a pond or something? Turtles require a lot more care than most people think. Visit the website I gave you.

In addition to the rubber storage tub, you can also you a kiddy pool, or just anything else that is long, not tall. It isn't the amount of water in the tank that is the problem, it is the shape of the tank. Turtles can breath underwater to a point, but they are not fish. They still have to come up for air, that is why if you don't have a place for them to rest out of the water, they can drowned.

Please don't feel like we are attacking you. I know you love your turtle, otherwise you would have so many pictures of her on here :) We are just trying to help you care for her so she lives a full happy life!!

I agree.. the setup is cruel... turtles need to regulate their temps, either by basking in the light, or by floating at the surface away from the light, or by sitting on the bottom. You really allow for one place to "surface" in that setup. Turtles, though they can swim, are land dwelling animals too... all of them lay eggs on land. Their bodies are designed for moving side to side or front to back, not up and down. I'm sure you care for your turtle which is why you bought a large tank. unfortunately, it'd be MUCH better off in a tank with more surface area. where he can swim around more. Please get him a better tank. I do like the pic though...

PAY ATTENTION TO THESE COMMENTS, SOOKIE! They are all in the best interest of your turt! And that "I'm Drowning " photo is cruelly ironic! He/she may be needing to get out and bask! They do tire from swimming and need a break- THEY ARE NOT FISH! PLEASE, do your new friend a favor and read up on everything you can and correct the situation. Look at www.AustinsTurtlePage.com. I am new to this too but these websights are CORRECT! Please- I felt so sad looking at the photos you are obviously proud of! Your intentions are excellent-just please educate yourself more and you will understand. Thanks. BethK

I'd just like to point out that NO, your turtle can't breath underwater. While they're hibernating, they're able to absorb a very small amount of oxygen from the water, but at that point their hearts are only pumping enough to keep their bodies minimally alive. Your active turtle cannot breath underwater, not at all! They can drown, and it happens to lots of young captive turtles. And so yes, your turtle needs a long tank, not a tall one, to swim back and forth. It's a beautiful setup, but appropriate for fish and not your RES. This setup will eventually kill your turtle through habitat stress. Please review the posts on the RES forum and check out the web sites people have recommended. There is lots of info that will explain to you why the turtle needs all these things, and help you keep learning about the other things he needs. I really appreciate your positive reactions to what might seem a lot of negativity coming at you: some people get pretty hostile when told they've been mistaken! Thanks for taking our advice constructively, and continuing to ask questions.

Oh, one more thing: PVC plastics aren't dangerous to your turtle. Municipal piping is typically made of PVC. It is only dangerous when heated. The only concern I'd have with it would be to make sure the heater (if you use one) was insulated from the plastic, and then you could be sure it was safe.

Just like to point out that there is evidence of turtles absorbing oxygen while underwater. They might even have a special organ for it, but that is still under research. That is why I said they could to a point...but that doesn't mean they are fish.

Well I appreciate everyone chilling a bit more and making their points in a more constructive and less pointed way. I certainly do care about my turtle. While i do take every comment serious, I do find it funny, this environmental stress, how long does that take, you say, to culminate in death? He's been in this current set up for 2 1/2 years with his past owner who just gave him to me; my friend having originally rescued him from a set up he thought was particularily cruel--a 30 gallon with a few inches of water. Though is muscles were originally weak for swimming he now swims vigorously.

There IS a basking site twice his size which he happily uses and he's working with about 3 horizontal feet in which to swim. I'm wondering if these pictures just really suck at demonstrating some of the dimensions.

I've observed turtles of all kinds (freshies and salties) as a scuba diver and many of them remain 50 feet below the surface for hours. While I think it is sad to contain animals at all, MrT, I am reminded, was captive bred.
I will try to give him the best life possible and will continue to watch Discovery and read web pages like those offered. Thank you.

The stress of living in an inappropriate habitat takes many years to kill a turtle. It is like a human dying slowly of malnutrition, for example. Sure, you'd live and function for years, and would reach adulthood, but you wouldn't be healthy and it would eventually kill you.

3' of water depth is great, but I still hold that the lateral dimensions just aren't good enough. Why not put him in a better tank, and use the hex to grow plants, fish, and snails to feed him? It could be really beautiful! And I promise the turtle would love his new home. In the wild, they typically hang around the shallower areas of the pond, indicating the prefer to swim back and forth not up and down. You can really see this if you look at how their bodies are constructed. Watch how he acts in the bathtub. What if we turned prison cells on their ends and put a ladder on the wall so they could climb up and down? Would you consider that humane?

As for the breathing thing, I'd like to clarify what I said: they do absorb some oxygen from the water while hibernating, and can sustain themselves without air for that period. But, given the amount of oxygen they can absorb in this method, it's negligible for the amount an active turtle needs. RES can stay underwater for extended times upwards of 20 minutes, but that's it. What they're doing when they take oxygen out of the water can't be called breathing.

that's not what I meant either...I will just send you the study when I find it again :)