What's the minimum housing setup for a small red-eared slider turtle?

An adult slider should have at least 10 gallons of water per inch of shell length. Bigger is always better though, so if budget and space allow then try for a 75 or even 90 gallon tank. Provide a UVB light source unblocked by glass, plexiglass or fine mesh. Heat sources (for the water and for basking out of the water) are also necessary. A basking platform out of the water should be provided. Use a filter that is rated for at least twice the volume of any tank you choose. This will help maintain water quality. You can read more about keeping sliders at the links below. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/

Thanks for reaching out about your turtle. There is no such thing as too big a tank, but the minimum will be determined by the size of the animal, and will change as it grows. The larger the water volume, the more stable the water quality. Turtles will probably need a water heater, haul out area, basking lamp with heat and ultraviolet B radiation. Good luck.

Hi. I'm glad you checked. Red rated sliders can be fun pets but they also require specialized environment and care. She should eat some live feeder fish, some plant matter and only about 25% of her diet should be commercial pellets. Be sure she has an area to get out of the water in her tank, she needs a basking light for warmth and full spectrum UV lighting. Housing is the number one reason that sliders get sick or die in captivity so please take the time to get her set up correctly. Here is a great beginner article for RES care. http://www.anapsid.org/reslider.html

The info for red eared slider care can be used for other sliders. Their care is similar enough that it will not make a huge difference. A 10 gallon tank will be sufficient for a juvenile. As Puddle grows, you will need a larger tank. The recommendation is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. A filter is not "necessary", but will greatly help in maintaining water quality. Turtles are quite dirty since they eat, swim and defecate in the water. Frequent water changes, every 2-3 days, will be needed to keep the tank clean. Having a filter will lengthen that time to a partial water change every week or so. Be sure the filter is rated for at least twice the volume of the tank.

Thanks for reaching out about Shelley. Don't think there is a specific answer as metabolism depends on so many variables: water temperature, age, sex, and other parameters. But it sounds as if she is still hungry and recommend feeding twice daily. Monitor body score for becoming overweight. Good luck.

Ideally, you'll need a tank between 75 gallons and 125 gallons. The general rule for turtles is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Popular sites to search for tanks would be local yard sale sites or "List" sites. Be sure any tank you get from either of these sites don't leak. Check the local Petco as well. They have "$1 per Gallon" tank sales occasionally. Another affordable, but not aesthetically pleasing, option would be to use a plastic stock tank. These tanks are used as water containers for livestock. You can find them online or in stores such as Tractor Supply Co.

A RES requires full spectrum lighting (UVA and UVB) and lighting that provides heat. The dry dock, or basking area, should be completely out of the water. Basking temps should range between 90F and 95F (32-35C). You should place the UVA/UVB bulb as close to the heat lamp as possible. It should be no more than 12" away from your RES and should not have a barrier between it and your turtle. Glass, acrylic and plastic block UVB while screens with grids under 1/2" can obstruct a good portion of UVB rays negating the health benefits. Lighting should be on for around 12 hours a day, depending on the time of year. Full UVA/UVB bulbs need replacing every 6 months. The simplest combination for adequate lighting is a UVA/UVB fluorescent bulb and an incandescent light bulb (for heat). Incandescent light bulbs are standard household lights easily purchased at stores such as Home Depot or Lowes. Make sure your RES cannot splash water on it or come into contact with it. You can also consider halogen lights and red heat bulbs for supplemental heat. You can buy the UVA/UVB bulbs at most pet stores. Search in the Reptile section. They can also be purchased online for around $30-$40. ReptiSun 10.0 (by ZooMed) or ReptiGlo lights are quality full spectrum bulbs.