kvolz84
New Member
Hello All,
I am new here. I purchased two red ear sliders on Monday. I have had cats, dogs, and fish before but never a turtle or any reptile. These turtles were being sold illegally (turtles must have a 4inch shell to be sold in the United States) I purchased them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2 for $15. They came in a cheap little hermit crab/goldfish container (ever won a goldfish at a fair? A plastic container like that) 2 turtles for $15? What a deal! Haha. Until the car ride home when I started reading about all they need. 10gallon terrarium for every inch they grow, domes, different light bulbs, vitamins, water conditioner, food, and eye drops, a basking area.....gets expensive. I noticed one hatchlings eyes wouldn't open. A quick google search and I realized he couldn't eat if he couldn't see and could have been sick. So I separated the turtles and put one in a tupperware container. I found 2 used tanks today on Craigslist. I got both a 55gallon tank and a 75 gallon tank for $150. I still need screens but I bought a dome and 2 different bulbs. I scrubbed the tanks with Dawn (since they were used) and I plan on setting the 75gallon tank up tomorrow. I set the UVB lamp up hanging off a table for now and went to change the turtles water and put the small containers under the UVB lamp. The healthy turtle seemed a little less active but okay. The turtle with the swollen eyes will not move. I put the eye drops on both turtles (just in case the healthy turtle was exposed to any fungus or bacteria when he was in the container with the sick turtle) and put hatchling pellets and water conditioner in with them. They are sitting under the UVB lamp now. Is my non moving hatchling dead? I read wild turtles can sometimes hibernate and slow their metabolism so I am hoping he is doing something like that since he probably hasn't been eating. Also, being as though my hatchlings have probably never been exposed to proper lightening before, how long should I leave the basking and the UVB lights on for? Should I start with a few hours and gradually increase it each day? Thanks!
I am new here. I purchased two red ear sliders on Monday. I have had cats, dogs, and fish before but never a turtle or any reptile. These turtles were being sold illegally (turtles must have a 4inch shell to be sold in the United States) I purchased them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2 for $15. They came in a cheap little hermit crab/goldfish container (ever won a goldfish at a fair? A plastic container like that) 2 turtles for $15? What a deal! Haha. Until the car ride home when I started reading about all they need. 10gallon terrarium for every inch they grow, domes, different light bulbs, vitamins, water conditioner, food, and eye drops, a basking area.....gets expensive. I noticed one hatchlings eyes wouldn't open. A quick google search and I realized he couldn't eat if he couldn't see and could have been sick. So I separated the turtles and put one in a tupperware container. I found 2 used tanks today on Craigslist. I got both a 55gallon tank and a 75 gallon tank for $150. I still need screens but I bought a dome and 2 different bulbs. I scrubbed the tanks with Dawn (since they were used) and I plan on setting the 75gallon tank up tomorrow. I set the UVB lamp up hanging off a table for now and went to change the turtles water and put the small containers under the UVB lamp. The healthy turtle seemed a little less active but okay. The turtle with the swollen eyes will not move. I put the eye drops on both turtles (just in case the healthy turtle was exposed to any fungus or bacteria when he was in the container with the sick turtle) and put hatchling pellets and water conditioner in with them. They are sitting under the UVB lamp now. Is my non moving hatchling dead? I read wild turtles can sometimes hibernate and slow their metabolism so I am hoping he is doing something like that since he probably hasn't been eating. Also, being as though my hatchlings have probably never been exposed to proper lightening before, how long should I leave the basking and the UVB lights on for? Should I start with a few hours and gradually increase it each day? Thanks!
