Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found this little dude...maybe it's a female, not sure, in the road last week. I've got it now in a 5 1/2 gal. tank and have been giving it reptile pellets(can't remember from what company) and have some small guppies/SOME small plants living in the tank for when it decides it wants live food. The tank is filled up about half way and there is a rock that is big enough to take up about 1/4 of the tank. Any problems or things I should change so far?
My other question is about sunlight. How much should it get(the tank is inside with a filter running so it's hard to leave it outside)? Is artificial light ok?
Water temp-there are a lot of swampy areas around here and a pond right out back. I know the water doesn't usually get too warm around here, but what should I do about water temp? Do I need the filter in the tank and how often should I clean the water?
Also, this is one thing that I'm worried about; when I found him, it looked like the front of the shell was kinda smeared forward(as in it looked soft and like it had been stepped on or something on one end). That hasn't changed but it also looks like its head was scrapped a little. Well, now it's turned sort of white looking like ick in fish. There's also another spot on the shell now that's come up like that and the spot on the head has not changed. I'm starting to worry now because there was what looked like a white pimple on the chin yesterday and now there's another on it's head area. Just from my knowledge of other animals/fish/reptiles I am not real comfortable just leaving him like this. Is this from the bonehead roommate who kept dumping food in the water while I was gone this weekend and should I worry?
I called the vet this morning but the one we take our dogs and cats to doesn't do reptiles. What should I do?
Please respond to this with whatever answers you have.
Thanks

I'm glad that you care enough to help the little guy out. I would first try to give him more room around in. That would help him out especially if the bumps/rubs are from hitting the glass. I think artifical think is alright, and if you can take him outside sometimes and hook up some reptile UV lighting. That will replicate the suns rays on him. Just give him the amount of daylight that he's gettin outside. I definately recommend the use of a filter and to clean it as needed to keep the water clean. The water temp is room temperature and I use lights sometimes to keep the air temperature up. As for the turtle, try to post a pic of him so we cam see the problem. I would always see if you can find a vet that can deal with reptiles.

yea 5 1/1 gal is too small for any size snapper really unless a new hatchling