My yellow-bellied slider needs a bigger tank. What size and cost?

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 Shelley. Starting with a good website such as the San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society (instead of just copying it to here). At the minimum, a 30-40 gallon aquarium. Set up for a haul out area under a basking site. The basking site should reach 90+ degrees and also include ultraviolet B radiation (special bulb). Food can consist of turtle pellets (purchased in small quantities, used in 3 months, with the remainder thrown away). Fresh chopped vegetables can also be offered but it usually takes a while for turtles to accept it as food. Testing water quality and cleaning regularly. Good luck.

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.

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Great question! Yes, a 24 gallon tank is too small. Map Turtles like to swim a lot so therefore, they need a lot of space. A full grown Map Turtle will need at least a 75 gallon tank. Be sure to include a dry basking area. It is recommended that you have a sloped ramp leading up the basking area to allow for easy access. Hope this answers your question. Best wishes.

If you're having a hard time finding a dock that is the right size, consider making your own! Very simple designs can be made from PVC pipe and other materials. I have attached a link to a forum that shows several DIY options for building a turtle dock. These are often cheaper than store bought items. http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload/index.php?/forums/topic/153638-safe-materials/

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.

Thanks for your question about Jade! A 20 gallon tank is likely appropriate for him while he is young, however this species of map turtle can get to be about 10 inches or so in length, and due to this size, will need a larger tank as he gets to be full size. Ideally, the water level should be at least as deep as Jade is long, and more ideally it would be 1.5x deeper (ex: if Jade is 10 inches long, the water would be 15 inches deep). There would also need to be enough space for two haul out areas, one on the cool end of the enclosure and one on the warm end of the enclosure. There will also need to be space for a water heater to be present. With all of these items, it can get quite crowded in a small tank! I hope that helps to answer your question, and good luck!