Hi,

I've had my two red-eareds for about 18 months having re-homed them - we did our research before we took them on and they've been thriving with us, almost doubling in size, eating well and only having had one trip to the vet for an eye infection. We based our care regime on a reading of a number of turtle care sites and a book which came well-recommended. However since finding this forum I've found that I've been taking a risk with the size gravel I've been using, and had some advice about hiding places.

So I'm interested in what other things I might be getting wrong without knowing!

My setup is, for my 2 terrapins each about 20cm long

Tank size 80l x 40w x 50d (this was the tank we rehomed them in, now they're bigger they are due for a larger one this year as it's now getting a bit small for them). Single layer of 25mm smooth 'atlantic pebbles' on the bottom (replacing the gravel they were tending to eat), sorted to remove all the small ones and washed to remove any lingering sand (which I now know might stuff my filter bearings). Terracotta pot on it's side for them to sit in, or besides, or on top of....

Zoo-Med turtle dock, which I strongly suspect may get replaced with cork soon as I don't think it's up to the job. Over which is 1 x 100w SunGro 'exoterra' bulb and 1 x ZooMed 'repti-sun' UV bulb for basking. Submerged heater holding the temperature at about 78c. In the summer we put them out in the garden in an enclosure where they can get some real sun if they want - and when it got too curious, nearly remove the cat's nose.

External Hagen Fluval 405 filter, tank and filter cleaned out monthly(ish) - with 50% of the carbon changed each time. Foam pads and bio-max changed on a cycle at about 3 month intervals to preserve the biological filtration capabilities. About 75% of the water replaced at each clean-out.

Feeding them on a selection from Reptomin, Gammarus, T-Rex 'Aquatic Turtle', King British and bloodworm sachets - with occasional fresh white fish, shell-on cooked prawns and worms from the compost heap: they are very positive about the last three! In the last couple of months they've also begun to eat fresh green stuff like watercress or broccoli which the books say they should as they get older.

Also, a suggestion I got from a care sheet somewhere, I've put in a standard aquarium airbrick to provide a bubble column - it's supposed to enrich their habitat and keep the water surface broken up to prevent a film forming; something we have had happen in ours in the past.

Any suggestions as to how I can improve my care regime would be happily accepted!

tia
andi

This should tell you everything you need to know, in order to provide your turtles with a decent standard of living: The Terrapin Tank - www.TerrapinTank.co.uk -

Thanks (I knew I'd seen that comment about air stones somewhere!) - apart from the weekly water changes I seem to be pretty much in line with those care tips.

Yeah, just get yourself a much larger tank, and you'll be sorted.