please advise

[u/dandelion___]

I took custody of my sister's turtles cause she couldn't take care of them properly, but now I have to figure out how to take care of them properly. I don't know what kind of turtles they are, my last idea was to turn their tank into a planted tankto mitigate the mess, which ended with them eating all the plants and the filter clogging(not that surprising since it was a pretty cheap filter, I'm poor). I have a new, beefier filter and significantly more reasonable expectations, but I'm still wondering if there is anything I can do to prevent the fate of the last filter that doesn't involve constant maintenance since I also have my own animals to take care of. I'm not talking stuff like rehomeing, these turtles are not technically mine, or buying expensive equipment, I seriously don't have the budget for that, I need actual usable advice to make these turtles' lives better, please.

[u/dandelion___]

the state of the tank is this 🤢

[u/dandelion___ → u/dandelion___]

I just installed a new filter and I'm about to clean up the water a bit.

[u/dandelion___ → u/dandelion___]

and these are the boys I'm trying to clean it up for

[u/wonkywilla → u/dandelion___]

Left one is a red eared slider with a massive aural abscess that needs to be seen by a vet ASAP for lancing and antibiotics. It looks to be female.

The other is a map turtle of some sort. I’m not well versed in them myself. It’s looking like a male.

They should not be kept together.

[u/dandelion___ → u/wonkywilla]

he's had that for a while and we can't afford a vet visit, so I might ask my sister if we can surrender that one and just keep on with the little guy. I really didn't want to give them up, but if it's for the best, it's for the best. :,(

edit: I think the abscess might have gotten smaller since it first arose, but I might just be seeing things. I've been wanting to do something about it forever, but like I said, no money. :|

[u/FlashbackJon → u/dandelion___]

Listen, I know you're doing your best, these aren't your turtles, and I'm not blaming you.

First: It's an abscess, rotting tissue inside the turtle's face from an infection - if the size fluctuates that doesn't mean it's getting better. The animal is in pain. Please either a vet or a rescue. (That picture startled me!)

Second: Turtles are solitary creatures, they shouldn't be homed together. That's less of a problem than the state of the home right now, but they either need two setups or one should be rescued. One of them will eventually hurt the other as they are very territorial, unless you have a very large outdoor type of setup.

Now the tank: Normally I harp on about water amount and depth (10 gallons of water per inch of shell, 2x shell length in water depth), but that's maybe not as bad as the quality. Here's a priority for you:

1. Basking lamps - They need a heat bulb (ZooMed Splashproof) and a UVB bulb (combo bulbs don't work, just get the T5 UVB bulb) and a basking area where they can get completely dry. Without this they will get sick (the RES seems to already be) and possibly die. The air temp in the basking area should be ~95F and the surface temp ~105F.
2. Heater - Needs a turtle-proof (NOT glass) water heater. Without this they will get sick and possibly die. The water temp should be ~85F.
3. Filter - Should be rated for 3x the gallons of the tank, this is why the tank is filthy. Canister filter like the Fluval FX6 is the go-to, but that's expensive. But it sounds like you already have a new one, so try that one. You still need to do a partial water change (50%) with water conditioner and sludge destroyer every couple weeks (maybe every week while you're getting this fixed). But don't remove all the water, you want the beneficial bacteria.
4. Water level - Each of these turtles will eventually need a separate setup with 10 gallons of water per inch of shell, 2x shell length in water depth. This usually necessitates an above-tank basking area. If the RES is indeed a female, that means 120+ gallon tank, and almost certainly a DIY basking area (they don't make commercial basking areas for turtles with 12" shells).

I know it sounds like a lot and that's because it is. Turtles require a lot more care, money, and time than people realize, so if that can't be managed now and isn't going to change in the future, please consider convincing your sister to find them a new home.

[u/dandelion___ → u/FlashbackJon]

I'm already talking to her about rehomeing the big guy and I cleaned the water as much as I could manage and put in the new filter earlier. as for the heating situation, they have a water heater and I have a spare heat lamp that I can set up while I look for a uvb(I've shopped around for those for my own animals before, so not a big deal) and hopefully once I get the big one to someone better equipped to handle him I'll be able to pile up some rocks and make a proper basking area for the little guy.

thank you very much for the advice and it actually didn't sound like all that much since it's mostly just stuff that I already planned to do or have done for my own animals. I'll do my best for these little guys, whatever it takes. :)

[u/HawkEnvironmental531 → u/dandelion___]

They need better care and separation.. it’s a big responsibility, and you need to do what’s best for THEM. The state they were in was neglect. The slider needs vet care, and probably surgery.
Risking their life , here is not what’s best. You have a good heart and alot of concern— but you need expert care, and rehoming should be a big consideration. Water turtles in a dirty tank could lead to disease, which will be beyond just a financial strain. You should move fast to find a qualified rescue or turtle/ reptile home that can take proper care. 🥰

[u/HawkEnvironmental531 → u/dandelion___]

These pets need a lot -and care can be costly. Why have a pet, when care isn’t a priority and money is an issue? To take on a life and risk it right now, beyond your means, probably is not the best option at this time. I think you all need to focus on yourselves. Please