Red Eared Slider Tank Building Made Easy
Thursday, January 7th, 2010Things That Are Needed in Your Red Eared Slider’s Tank
When putting together your red eared slider tank, you should know the proper equipment that is required. Its tank, or aquarium, should be anywhere from 20 to 50 gallons to start, depending upon its size and needs. As a rule of thumb, it’s actually best to have about ten gallons of water per inch of turtle. For instance, an eight inch turtle should be in an eighty gallon tank. This is the best size for the optimum health of your red eared slider.
There should be both water and “land”. The water should ideally be deep enough for your turtle to submerse itself completely. Remember that red eared sliders are aquatic turtles, so they spend a great deal of time in the water. However, remember that they CANNOT breathe under water, so it is important for them to have “land” to rest on. The land should consist of non-organic material such as rocks. Also, avoid putting wood chips in the tank, as the turtle may ingest them (very bad) or they may rot or grow fungus.
To keep the water clean, you can opt for a filtering system. In the absence of one, you will need to watch your turtle’s tank water to ensure that it remains clean. If there is too much of your turtle’s waste it can make it sick and unhealthy.
As a cautionary note, it is important to keep in mind that if you do have an automatic filtration system, it is not set to suck in water too hard. If your turtle gets caught in the system and stays submerged for too long, it can drown.
Finding The Right Temperature For Your Red Eared Slider Tank
You need to make sure you are keeping your red eared slider tank at the right temperature. Keeping your indoor red eared slider warm is important. 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature at which to keep your turtle. Lowering the temperature 5 to 10 degrees at night is also an option. A heat lamp is a good way to keep the tank at the right temperature.
You should avoid dramatic shifts in temperature for your turtle. This can happen when you move a turtle from indoor to outdoor, or vice versa. Turtles can be sensitive to sudden environmental changes due to the fact that they are cold-blooded. To learn more about red eared sliders and how to build a red eared slider tank, click on the link above.
Byron Joseph is a recognized expert in the field of raising red eared sliders and has owned them for over three decades. For more information on building a red eared slider tank, see the link above. For a complete, comprehensive resource that covers every aspect of caring for your turtle, check out www.turtlecaresite.com. You’ll find that it is the one resource you cannot do without.