Habitat - Indoor :: Rate my RES set up

[Spike 7.62]

My RES is still an itty-bitty, and I've currently got him in a 20g tank. There are rocks on the bottom, and right now they are much bigger than his head so I'm not worried about him eating them.. yet. There are some rocks and a fake cave formation as well as some plants so he has a stimulating environment. Topside, he has a medium sized dock all to himself. I have a heater which keeps the water about 80 degrees, and a heat/UV lamp above the tank that keeps the basking area warm, currently its 87 degrees. I a topfin 40g filter which keeps the water extremely clean. There is also a UV tube bulb installed, so he has two different UV sources. I have two thermometers, one in the water to give water temp, and one that sits on the turtle dock to give air temp. He likes to push things around so sometimes I'll find the air thermometer in the water, but it's no biggie.

Over top of the tank I have a formed wire grate which would prevent any escape, although that is very unlikely. I need the open space for the heat lamp to get to the dock, but I feel more secure with having something covering the opening. I can also drop his food through the grate. Living with him are 3 fish; one algea eater and two rosie red minnows. He hardly ever goes after the minnows but every now and then one will dissapear.

The tank is on a bank desk in my bedroom, away from windows. Hardly any commotion goes on in my room except when I'm doing something but I dont think he minds.

And of course, I have picures


40 gallon tank


This lamp puts out UV and heat. I keep it on during most of the day, while keeping the tube UV light on all day. I turn both off at night.


The dock with the thermometer.


plant life and the faux rock formation. You can also see the heater and filter.


The algea eater says hello. I've had him since I had the tank (he survived two RES and a snapper living with him!) so I think he knows how to survive.


Some larger rocks to provide cover. This is his favorite underwater spot to hang out, if he isn't on the dock, chances are he's in this area.



And there he is!

-Spike

[blackforces get you]

i really love that set up. its so cool and they seem happy in it

[freshprince2146]

yea. Your lil guy looks very healthy! And nice setup

[Spike 7.62]

So that was my RES set up, but I've also got 3 other guys living in another part of my house...

Two painted turtles (one is estimated to be 2 1/2 years old, another to be 1 year old) and a Red Belly Cooter who is maybe 1 or younger. I know the deal with housing multiple turtles, and let me tell you that these had to be rescued and if they weren't in my house now, they'd be dead. All wild caught this past summer, I do plan to release them in the spring. But for now, I like to keep them happy in a 40gallon tank I got from their previous owner. I've got 2 filters rated for 40g each, a large size basking dock, UV tube bulb in the topper, as well as a UV/heat bulb over the basking dock, 3 thermometers (2 in the water, one on the dock), 2 large river rocks on the bottom, a fake cave, a fake resin palm tree, aquatic plants (anarchis, water wisteria) and lotsa fish.




I find that they like to sleep under the tree and inside the cave. The rock on the left acts as an anchor for the plants while the turtles munch.





I got the pleco from the former owner. I like him, he reminds me of a shark, despite the fact that he poops A LOT. I've also got guppies in there, currently 2 yellow, one blue and 2 red. I like the color they add to the tank, but about once or twice a week, one becomes dinner.



^Basking light, emits heat and UV onto the basking dock, which is also hit by the UV tube light.



Once I went to Petsmart and asked for two rosie red minnows. I must have been looking away into another tank or something, because I was handed these, although they were much smaller. So small in fact, that I didn't realize they weren't rosies until a few days after they were in the tank and grew. Some species of goldfish I presume.

Who remembers my sick turtle? Well here he is, fully recovered-



By the look of his shell, I'd say he's shedding and will lose those scutes soon.

Not the most beautiful tank, but it gets the job done, and I think I've got happy turtles. I'll miss them when they're gone, and hopefully I can keep the tank itself for my RES when it outgrows it's 20g.

-Spike