I need some advice regarding an aquatic turtle -- looks like a slider to me -- that is being kept in my son's kindergarten class. His conditions are disgusting and I have found a local realtor willing to donate equipment for his proper care. My question is, what do I need? He is 4-5 inches long. I know he needs a bigger tank because they have him in a glass aquarium only twice his size. There is no water filter and no UV lightsource. No place he can get out of the nasty poop-filled water. I need a real low maintenance set-up because otherwise I have the feeling they will let everything go back to the way it is now as soon as my boy goes on to 1st grade and I stop bugging them. It makes me sick to look at the poor thing. I need specific advice and product recommendations. Also food recommendations. I believe all he gets is reptomin. I keep box turtles and desert tortoises, so I have some clue, but don't know specifically what a water turtle needs. Thank you!

Do you think there is any way they may give up the class pet? It doesn't sound like he is being properly cared for, nor does it sound like they care to improve the conditions.

I don't know how low maitanance you can make a turtle tank but a filter will help immensly, hopefully someone will be along soon to recommend a good one. But no matter what I think water changes are going to be necessary. And that is going to be alot of work for someone who has no interest in the animal.

He also needs a land area, so he can get out. You can do this with stones and driftwood.

This looked like a pretty good overall slider care sheet: chelonia.org

General rule of thumb is 10 gallons per inch, a slider needs at least a 55 gallon tank and even that is too narrow in some cases. For a filter the Bio wheel 330 is good and for lighting the Reptisun 5.0 will work. This seems like a case of finding a good home for the turtle outside of the classroom. A cinderblock turned sideways is a good basking area. Good luck, and if necessary send them to my website for pictures of turtle setups.

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Jay,
Do cinderblocks leech anything out into the water? I recall there being some mishaps with fish owners do to something being released by the cinder block.

I could see how the calcium and limestone would change the ph of the water, making fish keeping difficult, but I couldn't find anything using a web search. I was trying to keep it simple, If I were building it for myself I would silicon in a piece of acrylic and fill it with river rocks. They do sell those floating resin turtle docks, maybe the petstore will throw one in.

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http://adam3670.tripod.com/thecrittercove that's my website, it has a caresheet on RES. I do want to add that turtles are not low mainetence and if the class pet isn't going to get the attention and care it needs, it might be better to switch to hermit crabs or goldfish. You might want to run that idea by the teacher.

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-Adam

"Help Protect our Planet from Overcollection, Purchase Aquacultured Livestock and Captive Bred Herps"

I agree the turtle would be better off elsewhere. No matter what sort of equipment is added without maintanence the tank will return to its current state.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

For a tank, I would get a 50 Breeder or a 75 gallon tank. Along with that I would either get a fluval 4 external canister filter or TWO fluval 4 plus submergible filters. Use just a normal 60-75 watt house bulb with a clamp lamp for a basking spot and a reptisun 5.0. Get a durtle RAMP, not dock. The docks don't get the turtles fully out of the water. Fill the tank up with at least 6+ inches of water (around 10 is better), stick the ramp on a side of the tank, put the basking lamp over the ramp and the reptisun in the middle of the lid. Reptomin is fine, I use Wardly because it is cheaper. If possible provide greens at least once a week and feeder comets (goldfish) at least once a month. Make sure ALL feedings are in the water, turtles cannot swallow or digest out of water. If you need any more help than feel free to ask, I am willing to help any turtle. I am really glad that you are doing this for the turtle.

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Josh Shrader

1.0 Ball Python (Monty)
0.1 Red-Eared Slider (Woody)
0.1 Yellow-Bellied Slider (Buz)

Thank you all for the advice. I have a feeling they are not going to go for this stuff however, particularly the size of tank needed. I don't think they'll want to devout that much space to the little guy. I am volunteering in the class tomorrow and will offer to take him off their hands if possible. My non-herper husband will be none too happy about another mouth to feed, but I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't do something. Wish me luck. If they refuse to do anything, I may report them for animal cruelty (after my son is out of her class, of course).

I think you are making the right decision.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

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