Red Ear Terrapin:

Chrysemys scripta elegan.

YOUNG RED EARS $55.00 each.

 

Turtles can live more than 40 years and reach more than 30cm in shell length

 

 

HATCHLING CARE:
When they have just been born, they still have their egg tooth and the yolk sac may still be extended from their stomach. The egg tooth is what enabled them to open the leatherlike eggshell, it will fall off on its own. The yolk sac provided nutrition while they were incubating, and keeps feeding them for up to 5 days after hatching. DO NOT try to remove this sac, trying to remove it can kill the baby turtle. Once it is absorbed, you will notice a split in the plastron. That will heal by itself , you don't need to treat it.

 

Housing:

A 2ft tank is the smallest recommended for a baby turtle (Smaller tanks must have very frequent water changes) depending on a turtle's rate of growth you will usually need to move to at least a 3 ft or a 4ft tank, at around the year old mark. . They need a dry land area with a full spectrum light ( helps to harden shells ) and a shallow water area. Newborns need to master the art of floating and staying underwater for long periods of time. Don't assume that they will survive only with water. Newborn Red-Ear sliders can actually drown if you neglect them a dry land area. The water should be not too deep and will need to be kept at around 27 degrees or 24 degrees when older . Keep their water clean. If you don't have a filter change the water every two days, although cleaning can be reduced by feeding in a tank of water outside the main tank.

Important since baby sliders are more prone to getting eye infections

Adult turtles are best kept in a small pond set-up with a decent land area.

 

 

Feeding:

Once they are set up in their tank start feeding them. It is important to get them to eat. Young turtles are primarily carnivorous but as they age they will enjoy more vegetable matter in the diet, start by offering them shaved oxheart with all fat removed, other foods for those less squeamish, (earthworms, crickets, sweet water shrimp, aquatic snails, water plants, and fruits, chopped for young turtles) commercial foods can be fed also). The same foods can be fed to adults.

 

 

 

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

 

How to Prevent Most Common Diseases in Young Turtles:

Keep the water very clean, provide him with a full spectrum light, keep him warm (about 80 degrees), and add vitamin supplements to his diet. Make sure the supplements are high in vitamin A and calcium.

 

NOT EATING?:

If a week has gone by and the hatchling still refuses to it, you will have to force him to eat. Make a solution of beef blood and turtle vitamins and using a drop dispenser get the drops in between his lips.

 

Eye Infections:

These are the most common problems in Red ear hatchlings. These infections may develop from dirty water and a lack of vitamin A. This can be solved by changing the water more regularly and adding higher doses of vitamin A to the diet. A solution of 97% distilled water and 10% salt maybe used to clean the turtles eyes twice a daily. If the eyes are totally closed, try to open them so that the solution gets inside the eye lid. Early treatment with daily salt water baths works. Raise temperature to 85 degrees F. If the infection is severe take the turtle to a vet as a vitamin A injection may be necessary.

 

Colds:

A Turtle displaying a runny nose, or breathing with it's mouth open, probably has a cold. Maybe caused by cold drafts of air. Temperature can be raised to about 85 degrees and extra vitamins added to the regular food. If it shows no improvement in 48 hours or it is swimming lopsided, ( means one lung may have fluid )take immediately to a veterinarian! It will need antibiotics to combat further complications like pneumonia.

 

General Hygiene
Turtles if they are not kept clean can carry Salmonella bacteria which carries a health risk especially for children and the elderly. Always wash your hands immediately after handling turtles or putting your hands in their water, DO NOT USE THE KITCHEN SINK FOR CLEANING.

 

link

http://www.turtlecare.net/index.htm