Turtle care

MudskipperFan

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Aug 5, 2008
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It turns out that I am actually getting my mom a turtle for her upcoming birthday, and not a colorful marine shrimp. She wants a turtle because she remembers keeping one before and they are like a tsunami of nostalgia to her. So what are some recommended species for beginners? How hard are RES (red eared slider) turtles to take care of? Could I keep one in my pond or a 20g bin?
 
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RES are actually not a good starter species. They can get huge and quickly out grow most tanks under 120 gallons. There's really no species you can keep in a 20 gallon long for life. You can keep babies of most species in there for a few months but that's it. If you want a turtle species that stays small and is easy to care for than look at Musk and Mud Turtles. Most of these species you can keep in tanks as small as a 40 gallon breeder but of course the more room the better.

I suggest you check out some of the care sheets on this site. Maybe you'll find a turtle that's right for you.

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/Care/caresheets.htm
 
how big is your pond?
 
Well, I think it is a little bigger than 7 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and 3 feet long. It is like an oval. I'd also keep the turtle indoors when it's cold.
 
How cheap are mud turtles as well?

Depends on the species and where you buy it from. I bought my Red Cheeked Mud Turtle from a reptile show for $30. It would probably be much more expensive in most pet stores.
 
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