Hi, I was just looking for some help. I have never heard anything about terrapins or had anything to do with them. However I have found myself with two of them!!

I do not know anything that they require so I would greatly appreciate any help you can give.

My gf's uncle has a hardware store and he set up a small fish section selling all kinds of fish which he is quite an expert on. He placed an order a couple of days ago for fish and when the boxes arrived on friday they didn't contain fish, instead there were some crabs in one box, snails in another, frogs in the third and finally two terrapins in the last one. When he contacted the company they couldn't tell him how the mix up had happened, but told him to just get rid of them and they would send out the correct fish.

So having nowhere for them to go, I couldn't let them come to any harm so I said I'd have them, but now I need some advice.

Thanks in advance!!

I have been told that they are yellow bellied sliders.

Even tho we have only had them a couple of days we have become quite attached. We don't really want to get rid of them. Just in need of advice. So many places say different things and so many different products. We don't quite understand it all.

Pics here - Index of /Terrapin

Posted in here as littlefoot suggested.

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There will be some advice offered I am sure when the some of the expert terrapin keepers are on like Graham, Bosshogg etc but for now take a look at the link made by bosshogg.
Terrapin Care

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Beat me to it.

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I will be OFFLINE and out of the country from 12th October 2008 until April 2009 due to work. Hope you don't all miss me too much.

Any FORUM related matters please PM another Moderator. If you need to contact me personally please email there may be a delay in answering.

Hi chris I answered your other post

You will get all the advice you need here.

Muhahaha

shouldn't have written all the other cr*p. Be more direct

Naaw, I'm kidding. Yours was a more worthwhile post.

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First thing is to measure them, then you can work out what size tank and filter you need. You measure the length of the shell from front to back in a straight line, ignoring the curve of the shell, this is called the Straight Carapace Length, or SCL for short.
When you know the size of tank you can decide what type of UVB lamp you're going to use.

They are 3.6cm

OK, we generally measure them in inches for some reason, then calculate everything else in metric!
So to stick with convention, they are approx 1.5" SCL each. The rule of thumb to determine water volume is to allow a minimum of 40 litres per inch SCL for the biggest one, and 20 litres per inch for each additional turt. In your case that's 90 litres of water.
Obviously they are going to grow, and fast, they'll at least double in size in their first year then half as much again in their second, then maybe an inch a year for the next two or three years, with the growth rate after that gradually slowing. So you need to decide now whether to get a tank that will last a few years, or one that will last maybe a year before you upgrade it, obviously there would be little point getting a tank now that is only just big enough for them, because they'll have outgrown that in just a few months.
You need an external filter rated for at least twice the volume of water, filters are rated for fish which are far less messy than turts, so you have to use a much larger filter than you would for the same size tank with fish.

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Would this be suitable for use with a Heat lamp bulb? What bulb?

Would it also be suitable for use with a UVB Bulb? what bulb?

Also how do i have sure its not too hot? Just use a thermostat? If i use a basking lamp and a UVB lamp will i still need a heater for the water?

Can you buy a good external filter with built in heater or would i need a seperate heater? Do i just buy a under tank mat heater? Would i need a thermostat with this also?

Thanks