Slider Hatchling Care Guide
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Lighting
Handling Hatchlings
Hatchlings are fragile and have a 90% mortality rate. It is important
not to handle them frequently. Handling them often can lead to a
lowered immune system caused by stress. Make sure to handle only
for maintenance and health checks.
The following can be a result of handling your hatchling frequently.
● Injury
● Respiratory infections
● Stress
● Other illness brought on by a lowered immune system
Stina Marie
Habitat Recommendation
It is recommended to provide a minimum
of 10 gal of space per inch of shell
Tank Size & Water Deth
Water Depth
Sample Setup For Hatchlings
Species: Sliders, Maps,
Cooters, Painteds,
Diamondbacks & others
T5 UVB
Heat Lamp
Heat Lamp
Digital
Digital
Thermometer
Water Digital Thermometer
Level Thermometer
1.5-2x the Basking Dock
shell length Basking Dock
Internal
Filter
Aquatic Plants
Hidden Hiding/Resting
Heater Spots
Timer & Surge
Protector
Hatchling Docks
Filtration Recommendation
Filtration is a key part of keeping your turtle healthy. It is
recommended to have a filter rated to filter at least 2-3x
the capacity of the tank.
Internal Fiters
25% water changes are required per week.
Carbon must be changed every two weeks.
Filters must be rated to be rated to filter 3x the capacity of the tank.
Nitrogen Cycle
Thermometers & Temp Guns
Heaters
The Jager will need a guard
Water temps: 78-82 degrees F.
Lighting
UVB has a direct effect upon the immune system in skin and also
stimulates production of beta endorphins, giving sunlight its feel-good
factor. This range of the light spectrum is crucial for its role in skin
synthesis of vitamin D3. For this to occur, sunlight must contain UVB
in a particular range. Most glass and plastics block these wavelengths.
The use of the incorrect % or incorrect placement will also affect how
much UVB your animal is receiving. Vitamin D3 synthesis in reptiles
requires warmth as well as ultraviolet light. UVA, is essential. Reptiles
have extremely good color vision, they have a fourth cone which
response to UVA. UVA light helps regulate behaviors such as feeding
(appetite), diurnal movement, mating and similar activities.
Reptiles bask to heat their skin in order to capture D3, increase their
metabolism, drive their natural rhythm and behavior, manage fungal
and bacterial infections, manage viral infections, heal wounds, digest
foods, for shedding and parasite management. For these purposes
they require IR heat, A, B and C. IR-A is deep tissue penetration. IR-B
is moderate penetration and IR-C is superficial penetration. Reptiles
Daylight require deep tissue penetration. These heat bulbs also have a small
Heat amount of UVA. They provide a full spectrum of visible light to fill in the
bulb gaps from the uvb/uva bulb
Your lights should be on 10 hours, Winter & Fall.. 12 hours, Summer and Spring
They must mimic the natural daylight cycle
Lighting
This species belongs to zone 3-4 in the Ferguson Zones
They require a UVB/UVA bulb that can provide a UVI of 5
For that you need one of the following
T5 10%
Arcadia 12%
Lighting
They also require a heat bulb that provides the following:
● IR heat A & B
● Visible light
Avoid LED, Colored bulbs and CHE
Wattage depends on
many factors
Heat Bulb Alternatives
Lights should be no
less than 10” from
your turtles
Lighting Fixtures
Recommended fixtures
T5 reflector & Large Deep Dome
Placing Your Lights
Placing Your Lights
Diet
These brands come in stages. You can also get
Mazuri Aquatic
Fruit can be fed sparingly unless they are marked moderates.
Adding wheat germ pellets is a great way to add extra
vitamins A & E
https://www.amazon.com/Laguna-Spring-Fall-Floating-Wheat/dp/B016RNJB9O Laguna Pellets
No feeds
Turtles require calcium in their diets, this is a great way to include it.
https://www.amazon.com/Penn-Plax-Natural-Cuttlebones-Pack/dp/B00GIEUO0I Cuttlebone with No backing
Live Feeders & CA:P Ratios
The Ca:P ratio is the ratio of Calcium compared to Phosphorus and In order for your animal to easily absorb
the calcium, it has to double the amount of the phosphorous. A ratio of 1:1 can be fed as a moderate but the
feeder should be dusted or gutloaded. The other feeders are sparingly.
Cricket Earthworms Calci worms Super Wax worm Beetles
worms Pill bugs
1:12 1.5:2 2:1 1:18 12:1 1:7 1:11
Butterworms Dubia Silkworms Ghost Apple Snail Livebearing fish
Roaches Shrimp
2:09 0.2:0.5 1:2.4 1:1 2:8.1
Gut loading: Feeding your feeders nutritional foods
Dusting: Dusting them with calcium or multi-vitamins
Safe Tank Mates
Live-Bearing Fish Ghost Shrimp
Aquatic Snails
All tank mates need to be quarantined
Wild insects & bugs are not recommended
★ Wild insects & bugs can carry:
parasites, pollutants, diseases and
pesticides.
★ Turtles are opportunistic and in the
wild, they will eat what is available
to them. Although they can also
be impacted by parasites and
disease, they build tolerances that
captive, enclosed turtles do not
have.
★ In captivity, they will be
susceptible to an overload of
parasites and/or illnesses due to
pollutants or pesticides.
