I just got a baby tortoise and I think I have the essential stuff but I need to know what to change and what to add and also what should they be eating?

My RES has discovered that she enjoys messing with the corners of her tank until she can strip the silicon. She needs a bigger enclosure anyway as her shell is now 4 inches long. However, given her history of finding ways to fuck up glass tanks, I decided that the only solution is an ugly ass stock tank.

Two admins ago I was approved for a 100-gallon tank since I'm a science teacher and funding it on my own. There were two restrictions, no permanent structures and capable of being wheeled out every summer. They refinish the floors or paint the walls during this time and the classrooms are emptied into the hallway. Here's the problem. I'm recovering from a TBI and have difficulty imagining/visualizing and breaking up physical tasks like building something into manageable steps. Brain just crashes.

I need to get this enclosure built before the current admin settles in and starts trying to make their mark. New admin does know about my tanks and turtle. I also make sure to incorporate my tanks into different lessons to justify their existence (planted fish tank during photosynthesis, pH readings, nitrogen cycle etc). I was originally saving up for a 100 gallon tank with a stand but that is just too risky given her penchant for destruction. Vet said she most likely won't reach her full size due to the issues when she was younger, she's a lil stunted. I can fit a 75 gallon stock tank and I think that will be more than enough for her and it gives me at least several years reprieve in case she defies expectations out of sheer spite and grows to her full size. If a bigger stock tank is needed that's future me's problem.

How do I bring my sketch to life?

So for the stock tank I was looking at Behlen Country 75 gal. Rigid Poly Molded Tank from Tractor Supply because its close enough to me and it's the only one that was under 100gal. For the casters I stumbled on to these Heavy Duty Swivel Caster - Polyurethane Tread Wheel - 1000 Lbs Capacity. Seems like they can handle the weight but don't know if they are right for this job just that they can theoretically handle the weight.

How do I build this?

How do I build the wheeled platform to put it in? How do I prevent it from tipping over/sliding out during the move?

I need to be able to move it as a one man job because I don't want to bring unwanted attention to my project. Any help visualizing and organizing these into actionable steps is very much appreciated. OR if you have a better solution that is also welcomed. I'm stuck on my sketch because that's all I could come up with but I'm open to other suggestions.

Was told she is a Mexican ornate slider, but now sure if true. Can anyone tell what kind of turtle this is?

Massive gal. She lives in a park that was built in 1967 and I would not be surprised if she were as old as the park itself. 💖

There are a few water turtles (red ear sliders and a smaller painted turtle who just showed up one day in spring 2025 as a newborn. We speculate a bird dropped him because there’s nowhere he could reasonably have traveled from to our house) in the relatively small pond in my back yard. It’s about 3 1/2 feet deep, 20 feet long and 15 feet wide. The adults have been there for years and brumation has never been an issue. The largest is about 8 inches long. Smallest is 2 1/2-3 inches. All of them are healthy and seem fairly energetic.

I feed them fish pellets, for context. It’s been unseasonably warm where I am, and I’m not sure if I should be feeding them. It’s supposed to get cold again in a few days but they’ve been in normal temps for about a week without food (they stopped eating on their own) and I’m getting worried they’re tapping into their fat reserves. What do you guys think?

I’m pretty sure I’m doing this right but I also have OCD and am always very anxious for the little guys going into brumation 😅

The first photo is the normal look of the eye ( the white dot is a reflection)
The second photo shows the eye now

Both eyes are like this. No swelling and not causing a bump. What should I do ?

Hello, people.

I'm new to turtles and was wondering if putting plants in turtle tank is a good idea.

RN my tank has lots of big stones as a substrate and that's it, basically.

I've heard that they eat them immediately, but I also heard that they are needed for a good enclosure.

So is it a yeah or nah?

Hi, I’m a new turtle Mom and just looking for tips and advice to take care of my baby! ( I’m using a temporary tank for now)

I’m a first-time turtle owner to a baby common musk turtle, and I just want to thank everyone who helped me learn about setting up the enclosure and taking care of my turtle in my previous posts.
I really appreciate all the advice!

My turtle seems to love its new home and is adjusting really well!
It even goes basking when I’m around and sometimes sleeps inside its cave, while other times it naps just outside of it.
One thing I find especially cute is how curious it seems to be about me! It often follows me wherever I go or just hangs out and watches me when I’m nearby.

I’m curious, how do your turtles react to you all?

I was wrong.

I did move the wave maker up as I was concered she'd get wedged lol

So me and my girlfriend rescued this turtle about a month ago from a previous owner. The previous owner left the turtle in a tank outside with barely any water and an empty kitty litter box as a dock. For the past month he’s been loving the new tank and we’ve kept it free of decoration to see if he’s healthy. Recently he’s started to shed and we tried feeding him vacuum sealed river shrimp to give him some protein other than the pellets. Since then he has stayed on his dock and has avoided the water at all costs. He also has not been eating any of his lettuce. Should I be concerned or is this normal?

Update: The next day after I made this post he was swimming and eating greens lol. Thank you for all the helpful comments I’m new when it comes to owning reptiles.

I woke up yesterday morning to this severely dehydrated hatchling. My bf's buddy had brought it over after he saved it from an excavator at his work. (I haven't had the heart to ask if there were more 🥺) I've never had a turtle before and this particular type if it is a box turtle is supposed to be not beginner level. Surprisingly, it had no interest in the earthworm I cut up for it but I got it to eat a little bit of boiled egg. Its moving around a lot more compared to when it was first brought here (So much so that I've named it Lazarus lol) but I'm really just in the dark about the poor baby and have not found a wildlife rescue close by who can take it. I would have released it but it's front right digit is either malformed or damaged. It has not used it other than once or twice and mostly uses the bottom of his chin as its leg to help scoot along. I know that there is no way that it would survive like that for very long. At this point I'm sure that it's pure dumb luck and God that has kept it alive. Someone help me with what I'm supposed to do. Every time I try anything it gives me the "Seriously, lady...?!" look and I'm sure that there have been a couple times I caught it attempting to drown itself when I was giving it a lukewarm soak.

A bunch of turtles at Trempealeau's Nature Reserve in Wisconsin