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Caring For Your New Turtle - Sliders
Essential Care Items:
Waterproof Tank (Aquarium)
Gravel, Rocks, Wood
Turtle Pellets
Fresh Fruit & Veggies
Shell Neutralizer
Basking Area
Basking Light
Cod Liver Oil
Vitamins
So you have a new turtle or are thinking of getting one! They are easy reptiles to care for and can bring hours of enjoyment as they become part of the family. We have chosen the Red-Eared Slider for our pet care because they are the most common pet turtle.
Your turtle will need a wide variety of food to maintain good health. A turtle's diet should consist of high quality commercial turtle pellets and should be high in calcium and vitamin A for optimum shell and eye health. In addition to pellets, your turtle should also have daily access to carrots, lettuce, cantaloupe, bananas and strawberries. Your turtle will enjoy an occasional cricket, earthworm or feeder fish. Be sure to add a weekly vitamin supplement. An easy way to do this is to gut-load your crickets or sprinkle vitamins on crickets or earthworms.
Turtles can and do bite so use care when handling them. The bigger the turtle, the bigger the bite. To pick up your turtle, grasp it by the sides of the shell keeping your fingers well away from its' mouth.
Red-Eared Sliders, the most popular turtle, are active swimmers. They need plenty or room to swim and exercise. Provide an area in at least part of the tank which allows for total submersion and free swimming. A basking area is also very important for your turtle for two reasons; 1) regulating the body temperature, and 2) preventing a buildup of fungus. The basking area can be something as simple as a rock that slants up so your turtle can climb out of the water easily without danger of being injured. You should provide a light that will give enough heat to maintain a temperature of 85-90 degrees in the tank.
A filter for the water makes keeping a turtle much more pleasant, reducing the frequency of cleaning. They must have clean water at all times. If you do not have a filter, you will probably need to change the water on a daily basis or no less than every other day, depending on the size of the turtle and the size of its tank. Please dechlorinate your water to keep your turtles shell in optimum health.
Skin and Shell: At some time you might notice a slimy green substance growing on the shell or around it's space. This is an algae and may indicate that you need to clean the water or reduce the number of hours the light is on. Light encourages algae to grow. To maintain a good healthy shell, your turtle would benefit from a little sun on a weekly basis. Just remember to monitor him and not leave him in the hot sun too long.
Fungus: If you begin to see cottony white tufts on the shell or skin, this is a sign of fungus. It usually happens if the turtle has been injured. If not treated, it can cause a condition called ulcerative shells disease which can be treated by soaking the affected area in a weak solution of iodine for a ten minute period, twice a day. Always keep him dry and warm between treatments.
Beak and Claws: Captive turtles are not always able to wear down their beaks and claws as quickly as they would in the wild. In order for it to eat and walk properly, you may need to have your Veterinarian trim his nails and beak.
Nutritional Problems: The most common ailment is a deficiency in Vitamin A. This is characterized by a refusal to eat and swollen eyelids, which can lead to permanent eye damage and blindness. You can avoid this by putting a few drops of cod liver oil on the food occasionally. Young turtles are particularly susceptible to calcium deficiencies which show up as soft rubbery shells and malformed limbs. This is nearly always the result of an improper diet. Treatment consists of calcium supplements and increased ultraviolet light. Contact your Veterinarian if you notice problems.
Signs of a Healthy Turtle: A healthy turtle should have clean bright eyes and a nose and mouth free of fluid. the shell and skin should be free of any sign of injuries and the shell should be firm and hard. It should have a regular and hearty appetite.
SALMONELLA: This a disease that can be transferred from a turtle to its' owner. The Salmonella Organism, which can produce severe gastrointestinal disorders, can be found living naturally on the shells and skins or turtles. In captivity, it the tank is not kept properly cleaned, the Salmonella population can explode in the water. From there it is transferred to the turtle's shell and skin and from the to the owner's hand. Since it is impossible to kill all of the bacteria, it would be safe to assume that any turtle you see will have at least some Salmonella organisms living on its shell. Fortunately, a few simple precautions can virtually eliminate the danger of contracting Salmonella.
1) Always wash your hands with soap and water after handling your turtle.
2) Be sure that your turtle's cage is kept clean and feces removed quickly.
3) Never allow your turtle to come in contact with any surface that is used for human food preparation such as kitchen counters and sinks, etc.
4) Always supervise small children when handling the turtle making sure they wash their hands after handling.
ENJOY YOUR NEW FRIEND!
Turtle Links:
http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html
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