Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Baby Terrapins?

I have just bought 2 baby Cumberland slider terrapins who measure 2 inch across the shell. They are currently in a tank which measures 22" wide, 12.5" high, 11"depth. I realise in time i will need a LOT bigger tank, but is the one they are in ok for now? How soon should I need a new tank? They seem to have plenty of room to swim, have a floating basking area and a good filter. Anyone any ideas?
Answers:
1) A good room air freshner. They get stinky pretty quickly. 2) A heater if you don't have one already. 3) A light 4) Good hand sanitizer. They carry salmonella on their shells.
The amount of water required can be measured by simple calculations. The length of the enclosure should be at least 4xL, (L meaning the length of the shell), The width should be at least 2xL, and the height should be at least 1.5xL. Sufficient water is required in the enclosure. However, for younger turtles water level should be shallower until you are sure the turtle can swim well. You can place aquatic plants or other decor in the tank for a hatchling to rest on. Until the turtle is able to swim well, it should be able to stand up and reach the top of the water, for there have been cases of turtles drowning at young ages, though this is unlikely. If the turtle seems like it is drowning when the water level is increased, then it must be taken out immediately. However, even though it may appear that the turtle does not want to swim at first, it can learn quickly.
Water filtration and quality are also major aspects of a well-maintained environment. Since captive terrapins eat, sleep and produce waste in the limited amount of water they are in, it is critical to have well-cycled and filtered water. Clean water greatly reduces the instances of infection, algae and fungal growth. The presence and build-up of harmful bacteria and waste should be monitored regularly.
A basking area on which the turtle can dry out needs to be provided. A heat lamp is also strongly recommended for indoor turtles. If a heat lamp is used indoors, turtles should have access to it for three to four hours per day. The water should be kept at a constant temperature of 24-27 degrees celsius (76-82F); colder water temperatures can cause the turtle to attempt to hibernate, which is impossible in captivity. Temperatures that are too cool are often called a “death zone” since they are not cold enough for actual hibernation but cold enough to inhibit their metabolism. Water quality with any aquatic turtle can be a serious problem. Turtle feces can accumulate quickly, and the resulting ammonia and bacterial build-up can be seriously detrimental to the animal's health. A good aquarium filter can help alleviate this problem, as can a separate feeding tank, but frequent water replacement will be needed to ensure good health. For adult turtles (often 20-30cm in length) it is generally accepted that a tank volume of at least 500 liters (approximately 132 gallons) is preferred. Another possibility is to keep the turtle in a backyard pond or kiddy pool as long as it is enclosed, form the sides and the top.
Another requirement is that the basking area be equipped with a heat lamp, and UVA and UVB light (it is possible to find bulbs that give off heat, UVA, and UVB). The UVB light mimics the sun and gives the turtle the vitamins it needs to metabolize calcium and maintain shell health.
good luck!
sounds fine to me. Would be great if you had some outside space and could build an outdoor pond - say in a sheltered conservatory or lean too? That would be great.
I had two terrapins and they were great - real characters
according to many information sights your tank should alsways be no less than twice the length and twice the width of your terrapins however i feel that to give the best care it should be large enough so that the can swim and bask!! your tank will be fine for a while, you should also have a thermometer, a light and a heater
hope this helps

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