Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two RES, about the size of a quarter, maybe a little bigger. I had them in a 32 gallon aquarium, but I decide to build them an indoor pond. They swam a lot in the aquarium too, but not like in the pond they are always swimming, well when they aren't basking. Of course when I got them, at a pet store, I didn't know that it was illegal to sell them. The pet store told me that they only get 4 inches big, yeah right. I have read enough on them now that I know what they need and they have everything. I don't want them to grow to fast or be malnourished. I feed them chicken, retomin, hamburger, aquarium plants are in the pond all the time, snails and they eat some of the goldfish food when I feed them. I feed them once a day and just a few pieces of whichever I pick for them that day, except for the plants and the snails are always there for them to it eat. Is there anything else I should do? I did not know how addictive turtle keeping is, I just love to watch them. Thanks, Julene

Ditch the chicken and hamburger and get them some earthworms and pinhead crickets. "Whole" animals are better for your turtles than the kind of meat that we eat, as it is just protien without any of the bones and organs that turtles need. Toss some guppies in your pond and your turtles will enjoy chasing them as well as eating them (if they can catch them). Too much protein can cause some health problems as well as shell deformity. An occasional piece of chicken isn't bad, but I think most keepers here will cringe at your mention of hamburger.