Yellow bellied sliders

[mrpink]

Hi id just like to know what is the best tempature(basking spot) for a Yellow bellied slider.Id also like to know if a 4ft aqarium would be sufficent for two adult YBS's all there life.Id also like to know how people create basking spots when they are adults as i doubt it the zoo med turtle dock(which im using now) will be very good when they are older.Thanks for reading.

[Graham]

Basking spot temp should be around 32°C, and the basking area must be big enough for them to move to a cooler spot without having to go back in the water. For bigger turts a large chunk of corkbark makes a good basking area, and because it floats it doesn't minimise the swimming area. In bigger tanks rocks and branches make good basking spots, or create an above-tank basking area like many keepers do.

No a 4' tank would definitely not be big enough for a pair of YBS for their whole lives, you need to be looking at a 6 x 2 x 2 at least, with a water capacity of around 750 litres and a filter that's rated for at least 1500 litres an hour, preferably more.

If they were small when you got them a 4' tank would be OK for a few years but then you'd need to upgrade.

[Reptilerescueden]

I feel that a pond environment are best for these turtles and RBS. Sorry if this contradicts but I have found this works very well for ours.

[Reptilerescueden]

Would also like to say that these turtles can reach dinner plate sizes.

[bosshogg]

totally agree with Di there do so much better in ponds where there can live as naturally as posiible all my RES and YBS live outside in my ponds

[Graham]

I agree with you both, for the hardier species a pond is far better than any tank, my own turts live in a purpose built pond.

[mrpink]

I dont really know how a pond would work, beacuse of things like heated water, uvb, basking site and the turtles getting out of the pond and walking of. Can anyone help answer these please.Thanks.

[neil4842]

you make a ramp out the water to an area that they can not escape from and they get the uvs when they come out and the sun also acts as a basking light. i have mine in an outside pond as well and they love it

[Graham]

...things like heated water, uvb, basking site and the turtles getting out of the pond and walking of...

They don't need heated water, UVB is provided free by the best source in the solar system, the sun! Make them an island, branches, or a beach as a basking spot, and build a wall around the pond or simply have steep sides to stop them escaping.
In a deep enough pond they can stay out all year as they'll just go to the bottom and hibernate in winter, just as they would in nature, last weekend we visited a local lake where there are lots of adult YBS and RES living wild year round, nobody feeds them, heats their water, provides them with basking lamps etc..., they just live naturally and are doing very well.

[mrpink]

Thanks graham .I think im going to build a pond .Do you know what age they should be before letting them out to a pond OR does it matter what age they are.