Habitat - Indoor :: Do you have the correct tank size?

[cam722]

just remember when you cut into glass it weakens it. Just something to think about

I've seen some pretty cool custom made aquariums I'd love to get.

[steve]

If you're going to be cutting glass on an existing tank, I'd forget it... not worth damaging a tank. If there is going to be some sort of overlap, i.e. a bridge of some sort then I would not consider it a 100 gallon tank. First, it makes filtration tricky and second your turt will not have the full benefit a 100 gallon tank's swimming area.

[TexasJagsFan]

Do what pkneeyahx did. I think that was cool.

[VWALEXVW]

curious i got 2 little babies, in a 40 gallon tank,,,their like at the most 10 cm,,,,thats ok right

[cam722]

What is the rest of your setup like?? The size is good for now though

[VWALEXVW]

well if i knew how to post pics i would, but ill describe it, they got on one corner a nice basking bed maybe about 8'inches from the heat lamp, its really nice on the bed, they have lots, tons of room to swim around, they have 2 places to hide under, the basking bed i created a wood setup where their are many places to hide under or sit on or just relax in, and they have a filter. i also bought a 38 inch uv light that goes across the entire tank for light, i just fed them,,,they ate on my first try!! one right out of my hand, one seems scared though but its only been 6 hours since i got them from the store...things seem ok, the thermometer for the water reads 76-77 and i have the heater runnning, plus i put the chemicals to de-cholorine it from big als....n their swimming around n stuff,,,,any other tips would be great, thanks

[way2fst4u]

I have a real hard time believing the results of this poll...especially for an indoor setup. If it's true, it means one of 2 things, no one on this forum has an adult turt, or many of you with multiple turts have a house full of 55 gallon aquariums.

I know the "rule of thumb" is 10 gals per 1" of shell, but realistically, is it unhealty for the turtle to have less? I think unless it's an extreme case (like a 5" turt in a 10 gallon tank), the rule is a bit excessive...just my opinion, I know most here will disagree.

[cam722]

I have a real hard time believing the results of this poll...especially for an indoor setup. If it's true, it means one of 2 things, no one on this forum has an adult turt, or many of you with multiple turts have a house full of 55 gallon aquariums.

Why do you have a hard time believing this? I for one have 2 turtles.. one 4" .. and one 3.5" .. and I have a 75 gallon tank.. I voted.. that my tank is just the right size, which it is for this size of turtle. I can't answer for anyone else, but you do realize that only 25 people even voted in that poll don't you??

[way2fst4u]

I can't answer for anyone else, but you do realize that only 25 people even voted in that poll don't you??

I guess it makes more sence if I would have paid attention to that...

Maybe it's the people that didn't vote that don't adhere to that rule? I personally have a tank that's WAY too big "for now". I have three 1" RES in a 60 gallon show tank, but I know it's going to be too small someday. By then, I hope to have the pond done in the yard so they can be outside anyways.

[cam722]

See, it makes a huge difference there doesn't it

Options on the poll results:

1. They have either a tank too small and don't care.
2. They have a tank that is too small but working on getting a better one.
3. Just don't like taking part in silly polls

Some people get rather embarrassed and feel guilty about not having the proper setup. I know I was one of those. Once I found out what was needed I tried to remedy it as soon as possible. Others may not have the funds or resources that some of us do. I know that many of the people here are teenagers and don't have parents who are willing to help them or they are limited in their funds etc. I think we all wish we could do more or have better. Heck I want a huge pond but its not doable .. so well just do what I can inside.

[way2fst4u]

I know the guilty feeling only too well! If you remember, a little over a week ago, I joined this forum. I had 3 hatchlings in a 12 gallon nano cube tank. Now they reside in a 60 gallon show tank with driftwood, turtle dock, 2 large UVB fluorescents, and a uva spotlamp for basking...

I'm just trying to find the spot for the pond, and it's a done deal...hehehe. Hatchlings in the house, and yearlings outside. This will allow me to get some more hatchlings (different species) when these grow up

[HappyTheCow]

i cant convince my mom to let me get my turtle a bigger tank, she says i can have her fish's tank when they die. :[ she doesnt do any research and she nags about how im "starving" my turtle. she always tells me to feed my turtle a container cap full of pellets everyday... BAH. and she is always saying the tank is big enough. such bull. she also sneak feeds my turtle when im not home, and shes not the one thats cleaning the tank.

[diyabolo]

I have to agree with way2fst4u's earlier post. I'll probably take flak for it, but I think the 1 inch to 10 gallons ratio is too simplistic. For one, it uses a measure of length to determine volume, which can only have limited accuracy. Using the 10:1 guideline, an 8-inch adult gets the same tank, 80 gallons, as two 4-inchers, or two 3's and a 2, or eight babies--when there is a world of difference in mass between those combinations. Second, it forgets that the turtle roommates don't draw a line down the middle of their tank and split it 50/50, they share the space. So, effectively, each 4-incher in the above example gets 80 gallons of living space. Great for them, but probably more than needed. When two humans share a 500 square foot apartment, they would never say they lived in 250 square feet, because most of the living area is shared, with one private bedroom for each occupant. Likewise, turtle roomies should be able to hide from one another, of course, but can share swimming space, no problem, so long as they aren't aggressive (in which case they shouldn't share a tank at all).

To keep from rambling, and to keep it simple, I'd say a better (but still by no means perfect) guideline would be 10 gallons per inch for the biggest turtle and 5 gallons per inch thereafter. Kind of like a buy one get one half off sale. So the two four inchers would get 40 + 20 = 60 gallons, or the 8 babies would get 10 + 35 = 45 gallons. And, as above, the bumbling 8-inch monster would get the 80 gallons he needs.

Is it great to give them as much room as possible? Absolutely--I'd love to give ours a whole room. But I think, as a minimum, the 10:1 ratio is too high when it comes to multiple turts. Just my humble opinion!

[way2fst4u]

diyabolo...I agree wholeheatedly! I do think if we had the means, most of us would prefer to give our turts a bigger & better home, but lets face it...we provide the best we can, and I think your rule of thumb is a little more accurate.

[diyabolo]

PS - For the record, we have a 5" and a 3" in 60 gallons (I know, 5 less than my own formula...) and they are very healthy, active, and (as far as anyone can tell) happy.