I have some questions about my RES care

[loveofpets93]

{{ (http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtles007.PNG)Click for picture.}} (http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtles007.PNG)
I got two new baby Red-Eared Sliders, Sam (far left in pic) and Nelly (right, under the brown bridge in pic).
I have a couple questions:
1) I am currently feeding them RectoMin Baby pellets, and occasionally whole krill treats. Am I feeding them the right pellets with the correct amount of nutrition they need, or do I need to feed them live?? They’re so little - could they eat anything that’s alive??
2) Their shells are currently 1 and a half inches long, and they’re housed in a ten-gallon tank for now. Is that a big enough tank??
3) How fast will they grow??
4) I have a UVB ray light over a basking area, and a UV light. Are there any more lights I need to buy??
5) I have a heater, but the water always stays at 75 degrees without it. I’ve heard that the water should be 80 degrees sometimes, and 70 sometimes. How hot is the water supposed to be and if the water is and should be 75 degress without the heater, do I still need to use it?
6) Is washing their shells neccesary? How often should I?
7) Will chlorine in tap water hurt them?
8) I’ve been feeding them 2-3 pellets once in the morning each and once in the night each. Is that enough because it’s all they can consume in two minutes because they have to chase the pellets while they’re floating, and the instructions on the back of the pellets say feed all they can consume in two minutes twice daily. I was thinking that wasn’t enough though...is it?
9) I have one light that I know for sure gives off UVA.
I have another light that gives off blueish colored rays...do UVB rays look like that? It’s soft and it makes the tank a tint of light blueish.
How do you find out if your bulb gives off UVB?
Thanks, please just answer what you can. :)

[cstrohmeyer]

You seem to be doing most everything right. How big is your terrarium? Growth of the turtles will vary with housing. I would not wash the shells. As for the chlorine, I recommend using a mild dechlorinator, but it is not that important for RES turles in my opinion and experience. I would recommend a product called Wonder Shells for calcium & magenesium which are important for their long term health (these shells also remove chlorine).
As for the UVB which is essential, check the bulb, it should be printed there. The wave length of UVB is 420 NM. Do not look directly at UVB, as it is not good for your eyes. Also UVB lamps need to be replaced every 6 months for proper UVB radiation output.

Carl
Aquarium Design and Maintenance since 1978
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/

[loveofpets93]

Yep, it's UVB! Thank you so much. That was so obvious but I'd be worrying without seeing the UVB label on it.

[Bettachris]

a 10 gallon isn't enough for adults, but for small ones it should be ok. i would get a 30-50 gallon to house 2 adults. My largest female was about 9 years old and 14 inches.

---feeding---
pellets are good for a staple food, freezed dried foods dont really have enough nutritention to be an everyday food, and live food (fish) would be a bad idea, too much dieases going around. ur feeding plan sounds ok, just keep it the same.

-temp-
i never used a heater to warm up my turtles water but 75 sounds ok.

i would wash their shells once a week during the weekly water change, for chlorine i would use stress coat, found in the fish departments as it is good for making tap water ok for water animals.

[loveofpets93]

Here are some pictures of my turts:
Sam Pictures:

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesSAM.PNG

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesSAM1.PNG

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesSAM2.PNG

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesSAM3.PNG

Nelly Pictures:

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesNELLY.PNG

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesNELLY1.PNG

http://usera.imagecave.com/kelseh_pwns_j00/KelseysBabyTurtlesNELLY3.PNG