Woot

[paul112]

Congrats on the turtle I've had one for nearly 9 years, and wrote the following articles. Hope they help you

Housing the Red Eared Slider

A Diet Summary for Slider

Paul

 

[cichlaguapote]

Oh yeah, Its not going to need it right at this instant, but I would take it outside for a little bit each day until you gtet it so it still gets some rays.

Basically yes.. it's debatable whether it needs one 25% of people say no but a majority will say yes.. and IMO I'd rather get one eventually for it..

 

[elevatethis]

Its a shame that "I don't have the cash right now for it" is a valid excuse for not providing for an animal's basic needs. I don't mean to offend, and I apologize if you weren't aware before now that they do need it.

Its been proven that aquatic turtles absolutely need UVB to properly metabolize calcium.

Turtles need calcium to build their bones/shells, as well as complete other metabolic processes. What will happen if he doesn't have UVB exposure is that his body will begin to draw calcium from his bones/shell for the day to day processes, and he will eventually stop growing and get what is known as MBD or Metabolic Bone Disease.

Some people have turtles that live for years without UVB (and never reach adult size), others have turtles that get sick and die in a matter of months. Are you a gambling person?

I'm not trying to demean you personally in any way. We all love these animals and keeping them - it makes me feel good to see others have positive experiences with that and it would be a shame for you to have a negative experience with them just because you weren't aware of a particular aspect of their care.

If you can't afford to buy a UVB light immediately - its almost summer! Letting him get outside (in an enclosed container of course) for a few hours a day will give him the UVB exposure he needs to grow! I'd say to give that a try until you can get your hands on a UVB light.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I agree elevatethis. UVB is a must for all diurnal reptiles. Keeping your turtle outside in the summer is not a bad idea at all. I used to keep my painted turtles outside in a small pond and then bring them inside in the fall. By then you should have saved enough money to buy a UVB lighting system. Just make sure you keep it in something escape proof.

 

[ZOO YORK 207]

Oh, I gotta question for you, are you just going to keep the RES by itself or are you getting another?

Nice RES though.

I will probably get another.

Its a shame that "I don't have the cash right now for it" is a valid excuse for not providing for an animal's basic needs. I don't mean to offend, and I apologize if you weren't aware before now that they do need it.

Its been proven that aquatic turtles absolutely need UVB to properly metabolize calcium.

Turtles need calcium to build their bones/shells, as well as complete other metabolic processes. What will happen if he doesn't have UVB exposure is that his body will begin to draw calcium from his bones/shell for the day to day processes, and he will eventually stop growing and get what is known as MBD or Metabolic Bone Disease.

Some people have turtles that live for years without UVB (and never reach adult size), others have turtles that get sick and die in a matter of months. Are you a gambling person?

I'm not trying to demean you personally in any way. We all love these animals and keeping them - it makes me feel good to see others have positive experiences with that and it would be a shame for you to have a negative experience with them just because you weren't aware of a particular aspect of their care.

If you can't afford to buy a UVB light immediately - its almost summer! Letting him get outside (in an enclosed container of course) for a few hours a day will give him the UVB exposure he needs to grow! I'd say to give that a try until you can get your hands on a UVB light.

Ok I want you to pay $68 for a nile perch and $20 on a turtle dock. BTW I am 14 with no job. So I have to save up for this stuff and I didn't realize I needed a UVB so get off my back. Thanks.

I agree elevatethis. UVB is a must for all diurnal reptiles. Keeping your turtle outside in the summer is not a bad idea at all. I used to keep my painted turtles outside in a small pond and then bring them inside in the fall. By then you should have saved enough money to buy a UVB lighting system. Just make sure you keep it in something escape proof.

Well I am going to keep him outside when it gets warmer. And I know it needs a escape proof. Just like my Box Turtles I keep outside all the time.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

I wasn't trying to hit a nerve zoo, I know you keep box turtles. When I ment escape proof I also ment enclosed so nothing else can get it. I had a painted turtle killed by a raccoon before. Box turtles are safe cause, well, they close like a box. Sliders and most other water turtles aren't that lucky.

 

[elevatethis]

Geeze Zoo, don't you know how to take constructive criticism? If you don't want a critique of what you're doing in real life, don't share your experiences on a message board. I thought I was more than polite with you and in no way was I 'on your back' about it. However, I wouldn't expect most 14 year olds to respond to constructive criticism in a mature way either.

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

I agree elevatethis. UVB is a must for all diurnal reptiles.

The UVB debate is quite interesting... not all diurnal reptiles benefit from UVB rays. The ratings they give on UVB tubes are meant for reptiles that live close to the equator, but most of us have herps that live north or south of the equator.

UVB is good for reptiles, but many times the owners would over-expose them or under-expose them. I remember there was a research paper that over-exposure can cause stress in northern and southern herps. However under-exposure can have the same effect on most herps along with other health complications such as MBD in some species.

Anyway -- I forgot the formula for the UV exposure per minute at each latitude.

That aside, your turtle needs SOME exposure to UVB for a certain period per day. Sticking him by the window won't help since the glass panels installed are designed to filter UV waves.

 

[elevatethis]

For aquatic turtles, I have a personal experience where for me, the proof is in the pudding.

I knew 2 people who both purchased red eared sliders from the pet store where I worked at the time.

Both same size, both were healthy.

Person A purchases the full setup - 75g tank, heat, UVB light, filters, water heater, etc etc. Decided on reptomin turtle pellets as a staple food.

Person B purchases a 20 long, water heater, with a 40w heat lamp...gets out of the store for less than $60 for everything. Also chooses to feed reptomin.

6 months later, person B comes in with their turtle, minimal growth over that 6 months and its shell is soft to the touch.

Person A's turtle, according the owners, doubled its size during the same period of time and was eating everything in sight.

We used ballasted UVB bulbs on our turtle tank. We kept person B's turtle for a few months, it began eating, its shell toughened up, and began to grow again.

Just my own experience with aquatic turtles. Everyone has the right to keep them however they see fit.

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

I am not saying you are wrong elevatehis. You are absolutely right, but there is a part that people forget: not all herps are exposed to UVB equlievent to the equator's exposure rate 12 hours a day. Most them have evolved to cope with the UVB radiation within their latitudal area.

If I am not mistaken, RES originally came from southern Mississippi River down to the Gulf right? They need a fair amount of UV exposure then.