SINGAPORE - 1 Apr 2026: 11.30am Bishan 8 condominium is an older development, just opposite the Bishan MRT station. Its rooms are more spacious and has high ceilings compared to the 2026 condos. PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: An almost symmetrical photo of a building looks attractive, but is hard to shoot as there are obstructions. I share the photo captured. 1 Apr 2026: 11.30am Canon R5, 75mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4.5, ISO 125 Bright sunshine helps to create a sharper image.
Google Review
SINGAPORE - 1 APR 2026:
Yio Chu Kang Beacon is a new BTO comprising three residential blocks - 651A, 651B, and 651C - with a total of 454 units. It is facing Presbyterian High School and near the Yio Chu Kang MRT station. It was completed in June 2024.
Bright morning sunlight brings out the better image.
Photograph from inside a car.
I used Canon R5, 75mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4.5, iso 1254
TV mode, auto ISO.
Very shy creature.
Rare in Singapore
"Least concern" globally.
Lesser Mouse-Deer (Tragulus kanchil), also known as the Kanchil.
Canon R5, 300mm, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, iso 12800
12 Apr 2026, 10.45pm
ORIGINAL
SINGAPORE - 13 APR 2026: 2.12pm. Prudential Tower in Singapore features the company's iconic red logo and a distinctive green glass exterior. It provides a range of insurance plans including PRUShield for health coverage and various investment-linked plans. The Prudential Singapore logo features a stylized woman named Prudence, who is one of the four cardinal virtues. She represents wisdom, foresight, and caution. She holds a mirror to look at the present and a serpent wrapped around her arm to remind people to be careful. This reflects the company's goal to protect your money using smart planning and awareness of the past, present, and future.
Canon R5 135mm, 1/200 sec, f/16, iso 200
bright sunshine. lean against pillar to stabilise hand and camera.
ORIGINAL
SINGAPORE - 9 APR 2026: 6.14pm. Ministry of Education advertisements featuring the tagline Öpen Doors to Inspiration" on the platform screen doors at the Outram Park MRT station. They promote teaching careers with the message "Be a Champion for every student. Be a teacher". The station is part of the North-East Line, identified by its purple colour scheme.
ORIGINAL IMAGE
Canon R5 75mm, 1/30 sec, f/16, ISO 12800
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This Chocolate Pansy is ready for take-off from the “runway” fern.
Can you see its eye?
Yes, I can!
The purpose of a Complete Blood Count (CBC) is to evaluate overall health, screen for diseases, and investigate symptoms like fatigue, fever, or bruising. It measures the types and numbers of cells in your blood, specifically red blood cells (for oxygen), white blood cells (for immunity), and platelets (for clotting)
Red Blood Cells (RBCs) & Hemoglobin: These carry oxygen throughout your body. Abnormal counts can indicate anemia or other blood disorders.
White Blood Cells (WBCs): These fight infections. High levels usually indicate an infection or inflammation, while low levels can suggest bone marrow issues or immune disorders.
Platelets: These help your blood to clot to prevent excessive bleeding. Counts outside the standard range can indicate bleeding or clotting disorders.
The primary purpose of a liver function test (LFT) is to evaluate overall liver health, detect inflammation, and locate potential damage or disease. It achieves this by measuring blood levels of specific proteins, liver enzymes, and waste products (like bilirubin) that the liver produces or processes.
The purpose of a kidney function test (or renal panel) is to assess how effectively your kidneys are cleaning your blood, balancing bodily fluids, and maintaining essential mineral levels. These evaluations are primarily used to detect early signs of kidney disease, monitor existing conditions, and evaluate the effects of medications.
The Canon RF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 is an entry point into longer lens photography - tests the waters of wildlife or travel photography economically. Price, lightweight, compact dimensions.
Performance, autofocus operation and general build of the lens are reflective of the price. Lens has NO built-in IS
A higher standard of build or quicker (and quieter) autofocus will need
Canon R5 100-400mm F5-6.8 IS USM which has built-in SI (image stabilisation) but costs twice as much.
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minimum focusing distance of 1.5m - allows users to make more of the smaller subjects in the frame.
Filter thread of 58mm. UV filters or circular polarises will be more affordable.
Canon ET-60 lens hood
Canon's Super-Spectra coating enhances image quality by reducing ghosting and flare. Doe NOT have Flourine coating to protect the front element against water or fingerprints. Not samel levels of weather protection as pre-level L series lineup.
NO image stabilisation to get sharp images iwht a long lens. Mitigated if camra body has in-body stabilisation e.g. EOS R7.
No tripod collar, cannot pair with a monpod, no need a support tro share the payload. Write uses a small beanbag cushion to rest bewtten the ledge in a wildlfie hide and the lens to protect lens barrel.
BUILD AND HANDLING>
manual focus ring is significantly smaller than the zoom ring
No zoom lock but barrel does not slip forward, no worry about movement during transit or lens tilted own the floor.
AUTOFOCUS
Focus moter is the slower DC type, not the faster STM or USM .
In BRIGHT light, AF operation is a little sluggish for wildlife photography while in lower light, performance drops off. Not ideal for fast-moving subjects (moving toward or away from the camera). Sharp image for static subject.
Operation is distinctly audible - recording video trickly. the hum picked up by the camera's microphones.
PERFORMANCE
Tempting to use the largest aperture f/4 at 75mm rising to 5.6 at 300mm, the best optical result occur at mid-range apertures between f/8 and f/11. Need to raise ISO if shooting in lower light conditions.
Disadvantage - colour fringing wherfe purple outlining clearly visible around high-contrast edges.
Vignetting is visible butr isnt'a huge issue that cvan be corr3ected in Lightroom.
Possible to capture sharp images, but nmot the same sort of clarity expected from more expensive Canon telezooms.
Verdict; 3-star.
Red-eared sliders require a significant long-term commitment. Common misconceptions about their "easy" care can lead to health issues.
Housing: Adult turtles require much more space than standard starter kits. A single adult needs a large enclosure (ideally 250–300+ liters or roughly 50–100 gallons) to provide sufficient swimming area.
Lighting and Heating: They require a dedicated UVB light (essential for shell and bone health) and a basking spot (heated to 32–35°C) to allow them to dry off and regulate their temperature.
Water Quality: Turtles are messy eaters and produce a high bioload. A powerful filtration system (rated for 2–3 times the volume of the tank) is necessary, along with frequent partial water changes.
Diet: Juveniles are primarily carnivorous, but as they mature, their diet should shift to include more plant matter (such as dark, leafy greens) alongside quality pellets.
Veterinary Care: If your turtle shows signs of illness—such as lethargy, bubbles from the nose, uneven swimming, or eye swelling—it is important to seek veterinary care promptly. You can contact Toa Payoh Vets at +65 6254 3326 to book an appointment.
Shell rot appears as soft white patches and stems from poor water quality or inadequate basking. Respiratory infections present as bubbles from the nose, lethargy, and lopsided swimming, usually triggered by chilly water or insufficient UVB.
Eye swelling indicates vitamin A deficiency from a pellet-heavy diet.
All three need an exotic vet — Singapore has several practising specifically with reptiles, and treatment within a week of symptoms gives the best outcomes.
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A 50-cent coin sized hatchling becomes a 25 cm dinner plate within five years, which is why the red eared slider care guide singapore conversation always begins with adult size, not cuteness. Trachemys scripta elegans is listed as one of the world’s worst invasive species, and Singapore’s drains and reservoirs already carry the consequences of decades of releases. This guide from Gensou Aquascaping in Everton Park covers an indoor pond setup that gives a slider a proper life — and keeps it out of waterways where it does not belong.
Red-eared sliders are sold cheaply and outgrow their starter tanks within 18 months. Owners who underestimate the long-term commitment have historically released them into Bedok Reservoir, MacRitchie, and HDB drains, where they outcompete native species like the Malayan box turtle. Buying one means committing to four decades of care or arranging legal rehoming through a society like ACRES — never the canal.
The classic 60 cm tank from a starter kit is unsuitable beyond the first year. A single adult needs a footprint of at least 120 cm by 60 cm with 30-40 cm water depth, putting volume at around 250-300 litres of water plus a basking platform above. A 2-foot custom tank or a converted plastic pond liner sat on a reinforced timber frame both work for HDB living rooms, provided floor loading is checked against your unit’s structural drawings.
Indoor ponds with low walls and large surface areas suit sliders better than tall aquariums because turtles use horizontal swimming room far more than vertical depth.
Sliders bask to thermoregulate and to drive vitamin D3 synthesis through UVB exposure. The platform must be fully out of the water, large enough for the entire turtle to dry off, and warmed to 32-35°C by an overhead basking bulb. UVB output must come from a dedicated reptile UVB tube — Arcadia T5 12% or ZooMed PowerSun — placed within 30 cm of the basking surface and replaced every 12 months even if it still emits visible light.
Without UVB, sliders develop metabolic bone disease and shell pyramiding within a year. The cheap basking lamps sold in pet shops produce heat but no usable UVB; check the box for explicit UVB output figures before buying.
Ambient Singapore water sits comfortably in the 26-29°C range that sliders prefer, so heaters are rarely needed. The challenge is the reverse — keeping water from overheating during prolonged sun on south-facing flats. A clip fan over the surface during the hottest months and shading the tank from direct afternoon light keeps water within range without a chiller.
Turtles produce roughly three times the waste of an equivalent fish biomass, so filtration is sized accordingly. A canister rated for 2-3 times the actual water volume per hour is the minimum, and pairing two canisters or adding a sump dramatically improves stability. Mechanical media catches the large faecal pellets, biological media handles ammonia, and weekly 30-40% water changes remain non-negotiable regardless of filtration capacity.
Hatchlings are heavily carnivorous, taking pellets, bloodworm, and small fish. Adults shift toward 50-60% plant matter — duckweed, water lettuce, romaine, dandelion greens — with the balance from quality turtle pellets and occasional protein. Overfeeding protein in adults causes shell pyramiding and kidney stress. Feed adults every other day, juveniles daily, and remove uneaten food within 30 minutes to protect water quality.
Bare bottom or large river rocks are the safest substrates because sliders dig and swallow gravel. Decor should be heavy and stable; turtles bulldoze anything light. Live plants are usually eaten or destroyed, though water lettuce and water hyacinth can survive as floating snacks if replenished regularly.
NEA’s HDB pet rules focus on dogs and do not specifically prohibit turtles, so red-eared sliders are legal to keep in HDB units. Condominiums often have separate MCST by-laws that may restrict reptiles or large tanks; check your management’s pet policy before committing. Floor loading for a 400-litre indoor pond approaches 500 kg loaded, which falls within HDB structural limits but warrants placement near a load-bearing wall rather than mid-room.
Releasing a red-eared slider into Singapore waterways is illegal under the Wildlife Act and ecologically destructive. Released sliders carry salmonella, displace native turtles, and prey on native fish and amphibians. If you can no longer keep your slider, contact ACRES or rehome through verified hobbyist communities — never let it loose. Penalties under the Wildlife Act include fines up to $5,000 for first offences.
Shell rot appears as soft white patches and stems from poor water quality or inadequate basking. Respiratory infections present as bubbles from the nose, lethargy, and lopsided swimming, usually triggered by chilly water or insufficient UVB. Eye swelling indicates vitamin A deficiency from a pellet-heavy diet. All three need an exotic vet — Singapore has several practising specifically with reptiles, and treatment within a week of symptoms gives the best outcomes.
A red-eared slider purchased today will likely outlive at least one renovation, possibly a marriage, and certainly the original tank setup. Costs across a 30-year lifespan run into thousands of dollars for tanks, lighting, electricity, food, and vet visits. If that arithmetic gives pause, consider a smaller native species or aquatic invertebrates instead.
