Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my son found this baby turtle, we think its an eastern painted, are we right? right now we just have it in a small plastic tank with a little water to cover him and rock for him to bask on, which he never leaves the water. i change water every day but want to get a tank setup not sure where to start.

Yep that looks like a eastern painted or it could be a midland painted. Here is a good care sheet http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/chrysemyscare.htm

I would start with at least a 20 gal aquarium. Your going to need ubv lights and a spot light over the basking spot. Zoomed turtle docks are great for a basking spot and a filter is key. With filters you don't have to change the water everyday and they are very good for your turtle. This is my 55gal aquarium for 1 baby painted eastern turtle. I have a fluval 305 canaster filter and the thing is great, the water is just as clear as the day I put it in.

I have a baby just like it. You can tell by the orange stripe
down the back.

Please make sure you do lots of research and set this baby
up correctly. Many, many babies die from lack of knowledge
about lighting (for heat and UVB) and feeding. Soft shell
disease (MBD)still happens way too often even with all of the
info available.

Good luck!
Linda

You don't need a graet big tank right away.You can get 10 gal. turtle tanks whit the side cut for a filter there about 25 to 30 dollars.Plus all the stuff the last post said.Thats all I do for mine for the first or so and they love chopped up pinkies good luck
Chris Schott