Habitat - Indoor :: my turtle needs a new home !!

[mzkitty23]

i'm sure those demensions do include the ramp part. you need an (in water) thermometer for the water temp and another one for outside the water right near the basking area (not the under-water kind). i just got the cheapy ones b/c they have worked fine...if anyone else knows a better way, please correct me if i'm wrong.

don't worry you'll get it all set-up. i never imagined how much would go into it either when i acquired my turtle...so I sympathize with your confusion!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

ok, yet another stupid question. can you check this link out, it is of the thermometers i switched to, will they work? (i'm thinking the plastic ones with suction cups) the one that goes in the water, goes in the bottom of the tank, right? opposite or next to the Stealth Heater? http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=3921

when i set out to get the info to start setting up her new home, i had NO IDEA how confusing and "precise" everything had to be. but then again, i am a perfectionist!!

[imderanged]

I have never used that kind of thermometer, But I have heard of turtles braking them. I think that this is the kind might be a better choice.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12090
but I have to admit, I just have one of those cheapy crystal thermometers that stick on the outside for water temp, and I have one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ZILLA-Digital-I ... dZViewItem
I double check basking and water temps with this. I think this is the most usefull thermometer I have. I love it cause I can use it to check basking and water temps outside too.

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

i was looking at that digital one at first, i was just trying to cut some corners on the expenses, but i will just go ahead and go with them. that infrared thermometer looks pretty groovy, that one is deffinately going on my "to get down the road" list! thanks!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

yeah!! big time score for money!! checked online and a herp vet is just a hop, skip and a jump from my house!! i was a little worried cuz initially when i searched, i couldn't find a herp vet in town, the nearest one i could find was a couple of hours drive! so i thought what the hell let me try again and score!! i am calling tomorrw to double check, get approx. fee for initial visit and if all's good, make her her first doctor's apointment!! as a mother, i am both excited and nervous for her, but yeah!!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

and what the heck is a cuttlebone? do i need to get money one?
i'm still trying to find a dang tank, i checked e-bay again, i couldn't find anything that i wanted....
called today and first visit (inital check-up) is only $30.00!

[Take-One]

Cuttlebone is a bone and has calcium in it. It cost 99. in most pet stores. Be sure to scrape off the hard backing.

[crackerlady2007]

Money, I did the same thing when my turtle was about the same size as yours is now. He adapted fine. Just make sure you have a dock of some sort for her to get out onto. As for basking, I didn't know there was such a thing until I had 2 turtles and they were as big as yours is now. I worried that I'd just be wasting my time to get it set up, but NOPE! It took about 20 minutes for them to be fighting over who got to bask! I ended up putting another set up in so they could bask at the same time.

[Take-One]

Ha my turtles just bask ontop of each other

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

ok, updated list, check me:
55 gallon tank ($110), Visi-Them Stealth Heater 150w ($17), Hagen AquaClear Powerfilters 70gal ($47), Turtle Dock large ($22), Mega-Ray SB 100w UV/Heat MVB ($40), clamp light ($16), digital thermometer-2 ($14), cuttlebone ($1). did i miss anything? you guys are so helpful, thanks a million and Money thanks you also!!

[Nettle]

If I were you, I'd go for the x-tra large dock. I have one in my 55-gal so it does fit, and it will make it so that you don't have to upgrade quite as soon in the future. I saw one for $25 at petland the other day, if there's one near you (they don't have an online inventory).

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

thanks Nettle, there is a petland right down the road from me too!! so everything else is ok on my list then?? what is the cuttlebone for? i know it's for calcium like Take-One said, but is it kind of like a dogbone to a dog? i just wanna know it's purpose. thanks a million!

[Nettle]

The UVB rays turn calcium into vitamin D which then fortifies the bones and shell (which is hugely important). It's really the only point of having a UVB bulb.

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

wow, that is hugely important, thanks for the info!! well, i guess my list is finally complete then. it will be awhile till i get everything and set it all up. but don't worry, i will definately do a post on it, be on the look out in the future (say 1 1/2 - 2 months). i will still check this post in case you guys think of anything thing else i may need or anyother tid-bit of info. i know i keep saying this but, seriously, thanks a million you guys are wonderful and have been so helpful. when i put the first post up, i honestly didn't think anyone would reply or even read it, for that matter...you guys rock!!! the RES community kicks [---]!! smoochies!! by the way, if any of you have a myspace, come check me out. hit the www at the bottom of this post (in the grey area), but you have to be a friend to see my page, just let me know you are from turtle talk!!

[mzkitty23]

can't wait to see money in her new set-up!