RES hatchlings : NEED better light.

[Marissa801]

Hey everyone so I have 3 Red eared slider hatchlings . I got my main 2 at a fair winning a game (they were perfectly healthy) & I recently found one in my pond & brought it home....


My question here today is I have had a light for them in the tank to bask & when I was looking up all the possible reasons why squirt & nova's shell seem weird ... I looked up the light info & found out the pet store lied to me & it's only UVA .... Does anyone at all know a good light bulb under 70 watts or just at 70 watts that has both UVA & UVB in it? I'm willing to pay the price for my lovely baby's . Just let me know. I've been looking it up but you all here know a lot more about where to get this stuff for turtles than I do . Because I did just start owning & caring for these hatchlings .


As for the caught turtle (no name yet) he hasn't really been eatting but did pick at the fish they hunted yesterday. I feel really bad because he's still shy & I didn't know the changes where so stressful on them as I was reading... I really don't want to release him again because its so cool . I hope he warms up .

 

[AZtortMom]

I'm sorry, I don't know much about RES, but hopefully one of our wonderful experts will chime in soon

 

[KevinGG]

Taking an animal from the wild is NEVER ok. Please return it to exactly where you found it. The baby can bring disease to the other two or vice versa. It seems like your two previous hatchlings need to get the exact perfect care before you start thinking about adding to your collection. Why under 70 watts? Mercury vapor bulbs work great and provide heat UVA and UVB. Powersun is a good brand. I don't think any are under 100 watts though. I doubt just the absence of UVB would deform a hatchling. Can you give Sam outline of care ie, water temp, diet, housing, etc. sorry for bluntness on returning the baby but it is what's best unless you've had him for longer than he was in the wild now

 

[ascott]

Well, you can do a couple things;

Move your fixture a little further away from the turtle (if that is the reason you want to have a lower power uva/uvb source) or
Use a long tube uva/uvb bulb for that need and combine it with a lower watt regular bulb for the heat....

Is the reason you are looking for a lower wattage due to your fixture maximum?

When you say "your pond" do you mean you have a yard with a man made pond or do you mean a natural pond that happens to be on your property?

 

[Marissa801]

Taking an animal from the wild is NEVER ok. Please return it to exactly where you found it. The baby can bring disease to the other two or vice versa. It seems like your two previous hatchlings need to get the exact perfect care before you start thinking about adding to your collection. Why under 70 watts? Mercury vapor bulbs work great and provide heat UVA and UVB. Powersun is a good brand. I don't think any are under 100 watts though. I doubt just the absence of UVB would deform a hatchling. Can you give Sam outline of care ie, water temp, diet, housing, etc. sorry for bluntness on returning the baby but it is what's best unless you've had him for longer than he was in the wild now

Crap well I was told to take it back but it seems to be comfortable in the tank now & he's eatting the krill. But I guess I'll have to... & the only reason I want a lower voltage is because the lamp I have only takes I think 75.

 

[Marissa801]

Well, you can do a couple things;

Move your fixture a little further away from the turtle (if that is the reason you want to have a lower power uva/uvb source) or
Use a long tube uva/uvb bulb for that need and combine it with a lower watt regular bulb for the heat....

Is the reason you are looking for a lower wattage due to your fixture maximum?

When you say "your pond" do you mean you have a yard with a man made pond or do you mean a natural pond that happens to be on your property?

No there is a duck pond in my town that has fish & ducks & turtles in it & I had seen the hatchling swimming alone by the edge one day & caught it.

 

[KevinGG]

Crap well I was told to take it back but it seems to be comfortable in the tank now & he's eatting the krill. But I guess I'll have to... & the only reason I want a lower voltage is because the lamp I have only takes I think 75.

You might have to buy a new lamp. They're only like 15 bucks. Yes put the turtle back

 

[chazd1984]

Are RES native to where you live? From what I understand they are invasive in many areas. If they are not a native species I would def not return it.

 

[ascott]

If you have placed that turtle in the same community water as the other captive turtles....please do not place that turtle back into the pond. What state do you live in? North/South/East/West part of that state? We can look to see if you are indeed native land for the turtle or not...

Please understand that when you take something from the wild and place it into a forced captive situation you have now become responsible for the animal for the rest of its life (or you should know this anyway)...also, it is not up to you to decide to steal the animal and change its life forever simply because you "want it"....a turtle swimming all by itself is not a signal that he wants you to pick it up and rip it from the wild...but likely just part of its day....however, what is done is done. I am all for returning a turtle or tortoise to the wild----HOWEVER, if this turtle has now been in contact with anything that your forced captive turtles have been--then returning it to the community in the pond can prove hazardous if not fatal for it and the other turtle there....

Please read up on the facts about this species of turtle....like, it will likely grow to a dinner plate size, that this turtle is a dirty species and needs really good space and filtration...that they can become a bit nippy when they feel like it.....but they are also comical and endearing at the same time....please do set the turtle up properly since he is now in your care.