Terabyte the Turtle

I got Terabyte on July 5th, 2001. She was probably born only a few days before since she still had her egg tooth. Like all baby red eared sliders, she was the size of a quarter, neon green and yellow, and she had bright red ears. The people at the pet store told be to put her in a 10 gallon tank with an inch of water. She lived like this for two years, and then I decided to upgrade her tank. She spent another year in a 30 gallon tank with only 5 gallons of water. The pet store people told me this would hold 2 adult turtles. Like all turtles with little water and poor filtration, Terabyte got sick. After taking her to the vet (and paying $200 in vet visits and antibiotics), I found the Happy Turtles Pub Forum The nice people there told me why she was sick, and they encouraged me to upgrade habitat. What I learned?

A red eared slider needs at least a 120 gallon tank to grow properly.
Turtles are very dirty and need a canister filter that pumps at least 300 gallons per hour to keep the water clean.
Pellet food is NOT good as a primary source of food because they cause pyramiding. RES need to eat 50% veggies, 25% live feeders, and 25% processed food.
Turtles need cuttlebone to keep their beak trimmed and to provide calcium.
Turtles need UVB to help their shells, and the UVB bulbs have to be changed every 6 months.
Turtles kept indoors should not be hibernated.
With a proper setup, turtles can live for 30 years and grow to 12 inches.
Anything labeled "Turtle" in a pet store is highly questionable and probably a waste of money. This includes food, diet supplements, tanks, filters, and snake oil products that claim to keep the water clean.

Luckily, I have been in a position to change everything. Since then, Terabyte has doubled in size, has not been sick, and has shown a burst of energy.

I have a turtle/I want to get a turtle

If you are older, yes, these are the same turtles you had when you were a kid. Those cute little turtles that only lived a year were just babies, and they died from a respiratory infection, not from old age. Please consider doing a LOT of research before getting a turtle. Sadly, proper care is not common knowledge, so most people still believe that turtles can be kept in a lagoon with no light, no heater, no filter, and no basking area. Please don't get a turtle from the pet store. If you are interested in getting a turtle, please get it from a rescue group for a domestic turtle or from a reputable breeder for something more exotic. The turtles at the pet stores and in China town and the mall are born in turtle farms, and they are usually already sick when you buy them. Turtles are a large responsibility. Don't buy it for your teen unless you will take care of it when they go to college. Don't buy a turtle while you're in college unless your housing situation is somewhat stable. A 120 gallon tank in your living room might upset room mates or landlords, and I can guarantee you won't be able to keep it in the dorms. Turtles DO grow fast. Very fast. At one year old, it will be 4 inches and need a 55 gallon tank. They are also expensive to own, so please don't get a turtle because the pet store told you it's cheap. For more information, please visit the Happy Turtles Pub Forum. The people there are very knowledgable and will help you decided if a turtle is a good pet for you.