Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend and I were trying to decide what we wanted for an animal, and we finally decided that a RES would do very well! We haven't purchased anything yet, so we were wondering....

-Is it best to get just one turtle, or would it be okay to have two? If we got two they would be bought at the same time, not introduced into the tank later on.
-Would a 72 gallon bow front tank be big enough for either one or two turtles? we read that the general rule of thumb is 10 gallons per inch for the size of the turtle.. and we'd like them to have plenty of space, so we didn't know if that would be enough.
-If we did 2/3 of the tank with a land area above that (kinda like a shelf) would that be okay? Or do they need more land than water?
-If there were plants in the tank, whether they were live or fake, they'd probably be food instead of decoration, right?

I think that's about it for now... We're really interested in making this tank an elaborate habitat for the RES, so any advice on starting the tank up would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome to the world of RES!

A 72 gal. would suit a single turtle pretty well for the long term. For two turtles, it could get tight after a while. I would suggest a single turtle for that particular tank. Keep in mind too the sizes for each sex...males tend to top out at 7 inches /-, but females tend to go 9 inches and more! You might consider a male turtle if you are concerned about it out growing the tank...they will stay a bit smaller than a female.

Turtles are solitary critters. You don't need to get two so that they have companionship...they don't work that way. They actually view each other as competition for food and space. And the tank requirements for two full grown turtles can be immense.

They really only need enough land space to get out and bask. So, a surface a bit larger than the turtle so he can turn around and adjust positions. Make sure it has some ramp or slope so they can climb onto it. They really do spend the overwhelming majority of their lives in the water.

As far as plants...any live plants put in there will become snacks. If you decide to use fake plants, most turtles will take a nip or two at them, realize they aren't real, and leave them alone.

As always check out caresheets... www.austinsturtlepage.com is a good start. Make sure your equipment list is complete, including basking (heat) light and UVB light, a powerful filter, etc. Also, instead of purchasing a RES, consider adopting a RES in need of a good home. You can ask around on here if there is anybody with a turtle needing a home, check local shelters, or try www.turtlehomes.org They always have lots of RES that have been abandoned by previous owners.

Hope this helps!!!

Hope this helps

You might want to consider a turtle other than a RES. Females can get as large as 12 inches, which would eventually require a 120 gallon tank, for one turtle. And if you get a hatchling, which everybody does, you won't be able to tell the sex for years. Since you didn't make an uninformed, spontaneous purchase like many of us did, you can actually choose a turtle that might fit your long term needs. Check out some mud or musk turtles that will stay smaller. If you really want a basker look into a painted. I would consider a spotted turtle if I didn't already have 2 RES. Some of these turtles will cost a little more to purchase but will be far less expensive in the long run just because of their size.

Good luck! Nancy