Turtle Aquarium size

[monkeyman1018]

Hi!
I just joined this forum because I have a few questions on the appropriate tank size for turtles. I have 1 yellow bellied cooter that is about 5 inches long. The tank I now have him in is 19 gallons, and I take him outside to a pond type enclosure from April to August. Is 19 gallons large enough? If not, what size should it be?
Thank you very much for helping me!!
:) Craig

[zackish]

How big is the turtle?

[monkeyman1018]

5 1/2 inches long.

[Fishguy2727]

The bigger the better. The tank's shape and setup can also have drastic effects on how well it works for the turtle.

What filtration?
What water change schedule?
What do you feed it?

[monkeyman1018]

It's a rectangular shape with 5 inches of water in it. The turtle's feet can just touch the bottom when he's at rest. There basking area is 6X6, The filter I know is sufficient, and I clean the tank monthly (or month and a halfly max).

[Fishguy2727]

What are the dimensions of the tank? By shape I meant that there are long, high, etc. tanks and some are better than others. If you can add more water without allowing him to escape I would.

Is there only one?
What filter exactly?
What do you feed?
Any pictures of him?

[monkeyman1018]

The tank is 12 X 12 X 30, only 1 turtle, I feed him repto min food sticks, dried shrimp, and the occaisional apple piece or grape piece, and sometimes a little bit of ham or turkey. I'll get the filter and a pic (how do you post pictures?) tomorrow. Thanks alot!

[Fishguy2727]

That's a 20long. ReptoMin is not good at all. Check out Zoo Med, they are really good and have three different sized pellets. Be careful about the freeze-dried stuff, many take that and refuse all other foods.

[monkeyman1018]

My dad made a tank extender today which makes it 3 inches taller. I'll probly add water to the top of the tank, and the barrier will keep him from escaping. I'll check out that zoo med stuff online. I have been noticing that he doesn't eat the repto min pellets when there is some freeze dried protein in the water. I just have a few more questions......
Is feeding a turtle bits of ham or turkey unhealthy? I know that protein should be about 30 - 40% of the turtle diet, but are those luch meats healthy for him? And also.....
When I come home from school, I let Cooter out of his tank to roam the family room (which he can't get out of beacuse it's sunken below the adjacent room's floors) for 1 -2 1/2 hours. There aren't any harmful chemicals or dangerous things that he could get into. Do you think that the extra excersize is worth the bit of stress he might experience when out of his aquarium??? I also let him roam the backyard in the summer (under supervision of course).
Thanks alot for your help! :)

[Fishguy2727]

If he is used to being in the living room he shouldn't be stressed, but the safest place is in his tank. I would go with natural meats (not processed meats full of nitrates which can cause genetic mutations, in us as well). The more meat you give the more produce you should give him as well to help keep it balanced.