I plan on getting a Red Eared Slider next month:) I already have the 20 gallon tank and a filter. How much is the light(heating) for the tank and do I need a water heater? If so, how much will they cost, wheres a good place to get them, and what else will I need? I know I need food and a basking area and ramp.

Also: What are good ideas for a basking area and land? If you have anyother good ideas or tips,please let me know.<3

I'm sorry to tell you but ughhh you need atleast 110 gallon tank for those

I had a small (probably 1 1/2" to 2") Red Eared Slider in a 10 gallon tank so depending on the size, a 20 gallon tank should be fine. For light, I had just a regular incandescent bulbs in a regular aquarium hood but with your tank you might be better off getting a dedicated heat lamp. Maybe a desk lamp.... A water heater wasn't necessary in my case but might be a good idea for you, there are submersible heaters and they aren't expensive, maybe $20US at Wal-mart but a real pet store would be a better place to look. Something else to look into would be a filter unless you want to do regular water changes like I did. They weren't a big deal with a 10 gallon tank, but a 20 gallon tank might present some problems. A gravel cleaner might be an acceptable solution but the filter might be a little more convenient. Pellet food should be readily available at any pet store or even a place like Wal-mart. I fed mine a guppy every once in a while along with fresh fruits an vegetables I had left over. I don't exactly remember which ones so a little research would be a good idea.

There are commercially available basking ramps that use suction cups to attach to the side of your tank but I just stacked flat rocks and used those. One word of caution though, do not place them over any aquarium gravel because the turtles like to dig and that might cause the rocks to fall on top of them. I almost lost mine that way, I had a bowl over the gravel and "he" got trapped underneath it and couldn't come up for air.

Best of luck with your pet!

Personal experience.

A general rule of thumb for aquatic turtle enclosure space is 10 gallons per inch of shell length. Male RES grow to be an average of 7 or 8 inches, and females grow to be an average of 10 or 12 inches, so the 20 gallon isn't going to last you very long.

You will need a UVB light and a heat lamp. UVB light in important to a reptile's metabolism, like calcium absorption and proper food digestion. Heat regulates the rate of the reptile's metabolism. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Zoomed's Reptisun long tube UVB bulb is one of the best on the market to date: http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/rept… Be sure to replace UVB bulbs according to the manufacturers recommendation, after which time the bulb will no longer produce UVB even if visible light still is. I recommend that you do not use coiled/compact UVB bulbs; they are known to cause severe eye damage and/or blindness in reptiles, not to mention they have trouble maintaining UVB output over time.

You can buy a heat bulb and fixture at the pet store (more expensive), or you can get a aluminum "painter's lamp" fixture and a heating bulb used for raising baby chicks at a hard ware store like Lowes (less expensive.) Prices will vary depending on where you live, so you will have to look yourself. The basking temp should be positioned over the dry land in the enclosure and it should be 90 F. UVB and basking temp should be available for 10 - 12 hours a day.

pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

The water should be heated and maintained at about 78 F using a water h eater. It's better to use a shatterproof model in case the turtle knocks it around the tank.

You can buy a commercial turtle dock, like this http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/rept… , or you can create one buy stacking slate rock, red bricks (never use cinder block), or ceramic tile to the desired height. You can also get a plastic or ceramic plant pot large enough so that when you flip it upside down it will stick out of the water enough to create dry land.

I recommend that you do not use substrate on the bottom of the tank; it will hold poo and food particles and cause poor water quality. Unless you are willing to use an aquarium gravel vacuum A LOT it's just easier to keep the bottom bare. The filter will also be more effective with a bare bottom.