Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: New RES owner. Help please :)

[Winterchick]

My boyfriend and I have 2 RES that are about 5-6 months old. We purchased a heater for them, but we cannot control the temperature in the tank. We have been meaning to get them a thermomator or something to measure the water temp. We don't know what kind (digital, etc.), size, or brand name. We got one that would be used with fish (a regular thermomator), but it was glass, and we found out that RES can break glass things easily, so we didn't keep it in for long. This site said also to get one for the basking area, and I was wondering if we could get the stick on one for it and put it on the inside since the light/heat would be on it. We would put it where the RES couldn't reach it. Is that a bad idea?

We live in the Maritimes in Canada, and don't buy stuff from online. There is a Pets Unlimited near us, but I don't really trust the workers there cause they don't know whats actually good for RES.

I feel like I am worrying too much about them, especially since we found this site, and found out how many things can o wrong with them, what kind of dieases or problems they can get, etc. But we are at the same time, very thankfully and happy we found this site so we do know what to do or where to go incase anything does happen to them.

I am going to visit a friend, so that will by why I'm not responding soon. Sorry, but I will appreciate any and all advice!!!

[imderanged]

I really like a little piece of equipment called a "temp gun" or an infered thermometer. You can just point it at surfaces and it tells you the temp so you can point it at the water, or the basking spot too. If you don't find it in the petshop, you might look in a hardware store or even an auto parts place.

What kind of heater are you using? I don't have too much trouble keeping the temps constant in my 75 gallon tank with just one Invisitherm heater. If your temps are fluctuating a lot there may be something wrong with the heater, or it may be underpowerd for your tank.

And Welcome to the forum!

[bradmeisel]

i had to replace my heater twice.

[jay2487]

Those stick on ones can be put on the outside of the glass just put it in the bottom corner. If your basking light is shining directly on it it will effect the temp a little bit but if you put it on the outside of the tank at the bottom it will work just fine. Glass transfers heat really well so the outside temp of the glass is almost always the same as the water temp. As for the basking area I use a A/C thermostat stabbed into the basking area. You can find them at any parts store and they are extremely accurate and tough so the turtle won't be breaking it.

[Winterchick]

I have the heater that is shown on this website. It's a 50 Watt, exo terra turtle heater. Which the website says it heats the water to 78F. It was the only kind the pet store had. I don't like how I can't control the temp. but I guess I can if I unplug it for a bit, but I can't do that every time it gets too warm..... :/

Another question. How do you know when it is time to get a bigger filter? We bought the Repti Clear F250. http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/re ... _parts.php There is a bigger one called the Repti Clear F350. We have been noticing the tank is getting dirtier quicker. We feed them in the tank, but they dont make a big mess, and we think since we've had them for several months, it would be difficult and hard to feed them outside. We normally just take some old water out and put new water in once a week. And completely clean the tank every 2 weeks. But I find that we are changing the water more, but this might be happening because of the water temp. being too warm. We replace the parts once a month, but like i said, it's getting dirtier faster, and would like some input before I do anything or buy a bigger filter. Maybe I should just get the thermometer, and regulate the temp. and if it doesn't change, then get a bigger filter? I just don't know...

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, and hopefully I'll be able to find the things we need for our little turtles!!!