We received a small red eared slider from a neighbor because she didn't want to take care of him anymore, and because I have plenty of frogs and turtles, I got stuck with him. I'd rather take him then her give him to someone who didn't give a .....
Anyway, of course he was in a little turtle bowl then onto a lagoon. Now of course he is not eating. He is over a year old because I remember when she got him. He's about 2". Anyway, I put him in a Rubbermaid container with about 3" of water, and a rock for him to go on out of the water, and, he can go into this "rock" (old Gecko house). He has a heat/UV light, my question is. I have air bubbles going in there now via a pump. Since the water is shallow and he is always bobbing up anyway, is that needed? Also, I am getting the submersible water heater tonight. That is safe with a rubbermaid container? Thanks.
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1 year old Slider question
Replies (3)
You have a good set up
The bubbles in the water isn't really necessary unless it does filtering stuff. Well actually it moves the water around I assume so that is good - this way the water won't become stagnant. Though I can say that it is not needed by the turtle as they probably don't need much oxygen (or extra air) in the water since they breathe outside of it.
The submerssiable heater should be fine with the rubbermaid - I think those things can take a lot before they melt. And since the heater is already cooled under water it should be fine 
The bubbles aren't needed for turtles since they don't breath in the water. Make sure your heater has the little bracket thing with attached suction cups so you can stick them to the side or bottom of the container. That will keep the glass from touching the container. I've never had a heater burn a rubber container that way. I suggest you set the heater on about 86 since the little guy isn't eating. Good luck.
If the turtle doesn't move around much, and you discover the water temp not staying where you set it, you might want the bubbles to circulate the water around the heater. Still water settles around the heaters and then they stop heating cause that water is warm only in the immediate vacinity.
