Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My husband bought me a hatchling from the mall the other day. it was some guy who had a stand set up and was selling little tanks and giving a baby turtle to put in them. From the little research I have done, Im pretty sure it is a painted turtle hatchling. The man said to feed it once a day (with the hatchling pellets) and to clean the tank once a week. well I got it last night around 8pm and it hasnt eaten a bite of food since. I tried pellets twice, and then i even tried a small peice of apple. he wont eat anything is this normal? should I be worried? Also the tank is quit small...its a round dish type tank, with no lid...and has a very small platform in the middle with a plastic palm tree on it....should I consider getting something bigger to put him in? i will try to include a picture but this is the first time i have posted on a forum so im not sure if i know how. thanks in advance for any advice, its GREATLY appreciated. -jenni-

Hello.

First, the turtle you have is a Red Earred Slider not a Painted. You are correct in assuming the tank is too small. It definitely needs more water. I suggest getting at least a 10 gallon aquarium. The basic equipment you will need is a filter, heat lamp, and uvb light. They definitely need both lights.

The tank setup can be relatively simple, sliders like to swim so you can fill the tank as high as you like with water. Make sure to provide some type of way for the turtle to completely remove itself from the water, such as a log, rocks, etc.

You can feed the turtle basic turtle pellets you can find at at any petstore. I use Reptomin myself.

You can find a lot of good information about these turtles using a search engine (google, yahoo, whatever) Just type in red earred slider care sheets.

Also, I would consider reporting this seller to the proper authorities. It is illegal to sell such small turltes, especially since he is selling them with inadequate housing. I hate to see turtles being distributed by uneducated sellers and buyers.

-Mike
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

I would not worry about it not eating yet. Make sure to buy some real turtle pellet food from a petstore, or walmart, kmart, etc.
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Mike
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2 Painted
1 Musk
1 Common Snapper
1 Cooter
1 Map
1 RES
1 Corn Snake
1.1 Water Dragons
2 African Frogs
1 Toad
1.0 Degu
1.2 Chihuahuas
0.1 Cat

http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/deathbowls.htm

Check this out...

You will get much advice as to how you need a huge setup with elaborate equipment. Your little turtle bowl, although much scorned by many keepers, is just fine FOR NOW, but think of at least a ten gallon tank for later. Make sure your turtle is at least 75 degrees F (preferably higher) and, at first, offer red worms (AKA leaf worms) that are cut into small pieces. Alternatively (and I hesitate to mention this) buy feeder guppies from your pet store, crush them, and rip open their abdominal cavity. Red ears can't catch active guppies and need the extra smell. THEN start offering (a little at a time) Reptomin that has been prewetted to soften it. That first bite is critical - after they get used to it, they will take it dry but soft texture is critical for the first few times. This from a guy who has raised hundreds of juveniles.

i used to have 3 baby red ear sliders that i received when i bought one of the bowls too. i had already had another tank up and runningat my house. i used small rocks like you have on the bottom of yours. i fed mine everyday and 2 turtles i guess thought the rocks were food, ate them and they died. i would suggest getting a larger tank and dont use those small rocks. dont worry about him eating unless he doesn't eat for awhile.

I'd like to toss in a suggestion on housing. If you don't want to run out & buy a big expensive glass tank just yet, clear Rubbermaid storage boxes make great tanks for aquatic turtles. They're light weight, easier to keep clean, & have a lot of room for a growing turtle.
You don't need anything on the bottom for a substrate either. Gravel can be injested which is bad, big river rocks they can't swallow make too much work for you to keep them clean. Turtles don't care if the bottom is bare.
You can hook the filter & the submersible heater up to a big plastic box too, no problem. We suspended the UV/B fluorescent full spectrum reptile light fixture for ours from the ceiling like a swag lamp.
When they have the right water temps, clean water, and a basking spot so that they feel comfortable they're more likely to eat.
Our western painted was a little one like yours when we got him, all set up in a warm tank, he ate just about anything we'd toss in. I think he did because he was comfortable, we put him in a room of his own where it was quiet so he wasn't disturbed a lot. We did have to harm the live fish for him though.
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PHRatz