Yellow bellied slider turtles. Any tips on keeping them?

[Tortoise]

Been offered 2 slider turtles but I know nothing about keeping turtles.
Does anyone on here have them or can anyone give me tips on caring for them or books to get for info.
I'm really excited about getting them. Since I was a child I have wanted a turtle or a tortoise!

[lazydog]

"Ok, heat lamp or uv. Will look them up, don't want to get the wrong thing. Might take a week before that would get here though. I don't know anywhere locally I could get one."

Re: Heat lamp - a basic incandescent light bulb (if you can still buy them, as I know the EU has been trying to ban them??) is all you need. Just experiment with the height and wattage to get a basking temp of 30C. Obviously make absolutely sure that it is 100% securely fitted and cannot be knocked or dislodged as water and electricity are such a dangerous combination.

On that subject - it's hard to tell from the pics you posted here, but is their water heater protected in any way?? If not you'll want to construct or buy some sort of mesh cage around it, as turtles are notorious for smashing the fish tank type heaters and then the whole tank becomes live.

Also I'd really recommend that anything plugged in to the mains that's used in/around a tank full of water is protected by an RCD device, such as (but not limited to) this sort of thing: www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=10549111&fh_view_size=10&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=rcd+extension&fh_eds=%C3%9F&isSearch=true

[Tortoise]

So if I replace the light tube the uv will be enough? The tube says 10.0 on it. Do I still need a heat lamp with the uv? Can't think of anyway of putting one on.

No there isn't anything covering the water heater. I will see what I can do about that.

The have been getting out onto the wood platform but don't stay there long so far.

I'm worrying about everything!
Ie The filter, the amount of water, the height of platform, lack of swim space with platform in there! I'm a born worrier! So scared that i will mess up and get it all wrong.

Hope I'm not driving you made with all my drivel! Lol! Relief to have someone helping me with it.

[Tortoise]

Hopefully I've emailed 3 photos to you. Took with my phone so not sure how well they come out on email.

[lazydog]

Right - stop worrying :)

10.0 refers to 10% UVB output. That's overkill for them, for sure, as I'd use that for desert dwellers, not turtles from relatively temperate climates. It's nothing to worry about now, though, as an old tube won't be pumping out anything like that much UVB. Like I said - go for the 5.0 tube.

Yes, you need a heat lamp too - fluorescent tubes are not basking lamps because they give out very little heat. An ordinary 60W bulb (or 100W if your house gets cold) is all I use for basking lamps. They won't choose to bask on the platform until there's a nice warm basking lamp for them above it. They're probably climbing out to rest but quickly getting cold and diving back in. You'll need to provide that overhead heat somehow, as soon as possible, but personally I've never had to work out how to do that with a tank hood present... It's much easier to have an open topped environment with the tubular and basking lamps suspended at the appropriate height, above.

Of course you have the issue that the fluorescent light fitting is fixed into the lid at the moment...and you wouldn't want a basking lamp under that hood as it could get wet and would be too close to the platform, but when you replace their tank (and boy, yes, they do look very cramped!) then you can do it all without a lid.

Any option for cutting out a large section of the lid, above the platform, for now?

I got your pics. It may still be a bit early to tell for sure, but I'm 95% certain that you sent me pics of a girl turtle

[Tortoise]

Thank you.
Will get uv bulb next week.
Just looked on Ebay and saw 60w clip on basking lamp. Trying to think if that would work if I slide lid to one side slightly and clip that to something at the side maybe. How high about does it need to be? I will find a way if that lamp would be adequate (sp)!
We thought boys from pics on Google images lol. Just by the tail. But of course we aren't experts lol.

[lazydog]

The tail is the one pic I could do with being sharper, to be honest. At their size/age there'll be little difference in tail length and shape yet, but where the cloaca is located is the give away. To be honest, and at the risk of being accused of TMI, I couldn't really see the bum-hole clearly enough ...

Basically even before sexual dimorphism is obvious by other means, the female's cloaca will be closer to the shell and the male's will be nearer the end of its tail.

But anyway, I'd be amazed if a 4 year old male slider had such teeny claws.

[lazydog]

Re: basking light height - totally depends on the room temperature, I'm afraid. Our house is pretty cool right now and our 60W bulbs are probably about 12" above the surface, but I raise and lower them manually to get the right temperature as the weather changes.

[Tortoise]

I will try and get a better pic tomorrow. Wasn't easy to hold it still enough. Guess it doesn't like its bum being photographed!
Have taken out some of the gravel, there was loads in there.
So a clip on lamp would be ok? Doesn't get too cold apart from in winter.
I've also moved the filter to the back wall of the tank so they have the length to swim in.

[Tortoise]

The water is looking perfectly clear now. I know that doesn't mean its ok but looks so much better than yesterday.
Having trouble with the basking area. It keeps floating and they are having trouble getting onto it!
Love watching them eat .

[lazydog]

You know, I've just remembered what can help a lot with reducing demand on the filter, if they're tame enough to not get stressed by all the handling, is to always feed them in a separate tub of water (as not only do you then not get bits of food in the tank water - they'll often choose feeding time to defecate!) and then return them to the tank when they're done.

I'm sure you already know, but just make sure that you're thoroughly washing your hands whenever you touch them or their tank contents (re: Salmonella).

[Tortoise]

They are not too bad at being handled. Yes, making sure to wash hands. And making sure kids do too! (didn't know about salmonella though but thought there was something)
So, should I get a clip on lamp off Ebay? Quite cheap, so of course, I'm worried won't be good enough!

[lazydog]

Probably fine - just check the rating (i.e. the max Wattage bulb that can be used in it.)

[Tortoise]

60 was the highest I think.

[Tortoise]

They seem to have worked out what the basking area is for! Been on the a fair bit tonight.
Had to clean filter out. It wasnt pumping out water as well as before. It was really dirty!

How worried should I be about salmonella? One website said to bleach bath out after cleaning tank etc out and never to use the sink. Don't actually have any bleach so can't do that tonight after cleaning filter in bath.

[lazydog]

I don't bleach the bath out after I've cleaned anything reptile related. I do thoroughly clean it, but just with antibacterial stuff, not beach. My tortoises and geckos are less likely to be salmonella carriers than turtles though. The warm, wet environment of a turtle tank promotes bacterial growth more than in a relatively dry tortoise table. I'd agree with not using the kitchen sink, although I do confess to occasionally putting their food and water dishes through the dishwasher with our crockery and no-one's got sick!

[Tortoise]

Cleaned them out today. One of them sort of hissed at me and was a bit snappy! Still can't think of any good names.
Trying to get good tail photo but failing so far!

[lazydog]

How's it going with them? :)

[Tortoise]

Ok I think. The filter is conking out every other day now and needs cleaning to get it running properly! Really going to have to save up for a better one. Still not 100% sure which one I should get though.
They are now named snapper and chomper!

[lazydog]

I think I mentioned it before, but if you can stretch to this filter www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/aquarium-filtration/external-filters/eheim-external-filters/classic-range/eheim-classic-2217-plus-external-filter-p-2898.html you won't be disappointed!

[Tortoise]

Yes, can get that one especially if I return the one I have as faulty . It says 1 available so I better order it soon!
Thanks.

[lazydog]

Only thing I would say is that they can be a bit tricky to set up so don't be disheartened if you find it confusing. This site might help: www.rexgrigg.com/Eheim%20Classic%20Canister%20instructions.htm (but do note the little "update" he's put near the top of the article) and the customer advice line of the site I linked to for you (to buy the filter) sounds pretty good, too.

[lazydog]

Actually - here ya go! :)

[Tortoise]

Thanks. Will take a look. Hope to order it tomorrow. Then once arrives I will take the pets at home one back. (naughty but nevermind lol!)

[Tortoise]

What's the difference between the 2217 on here and the one you linked to? This one reduced but doesn't say plus.

[lazydog]

The plus version comes with shut-off taps on the tubing that make it a million times easier to clean the filter... I'm not sure if there's any other difference. Certainly there's not with the filters themselves, but there may be other extras in with the plus version.

It might be possible to find the taps cheaper than the price difference between those two, but finding them in stock is the issue as it doesn't look like the place you linked to does them at all, and the place I linked to is sold out:

www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/aquarium-filtration/external-filters/eheim-external-filters/classic-range/eheim-replacement-taps-for-2213-2215-p-5237.html

Also bear in mind that if you do find and order them from somewhere else, you're likely to be below any free shipping order total, so p&p on the taps may eat up any price difference...