Habitat - Indoor :: can't keep turtle in

[Rosepruner]

Ok, I have a turtle who likes to escape regularly, she's escaped 3 times now in the last month. I have a lid on the aquarium, but it's not very tight because I have to have somewhere for the filter and ATBA to go, so do you guys have any suggestions as to prevent my cute little monster from escaping? I have no idea how she's doing it either. I moved stuff around so she couldn't do it how I saw her do it before, so she must be doing something, but I've never seen her get out while I was there after I moved the filter and stuff around. She's a determined little turtle! I really get scared that she's going to escape while I am at work or at school and then get herself into trouble and I won't be there to help her.

[planet.caravan]

Whats your tank setup like?

Maybe try lowering the water level so even if the turtle is standing upright (90 degrees) on the basking area and its paws are extended it wont be able to reach the rim

OR try to put holes just big enough (aside from the airholes on the lid) for the filter to get through and close it tight all the way

My turtle's basking area is so high it can reach over and look over the edge but he doesn't try to jump, ever! (although he does put him little paws on the rim and look down and around)

How could yours possibly get out? Jump?

[blackforces get you]

what planet suggested:

-lower water level
-make the holes smaller for the turtle not to escape
-dont leave any open spots

mine use to do the same thing. then mine got tired of trying and just dont do that anymore. i used to have a 5 inch in a tank with a 2 inch inside of a 10 gallon tank and regularly they would try climbing out till we got a bigger tank

that could be the situation for you too....PROBABLY your tank is too small and they want more space

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Maybe your tank is to small. I agree with blackforces get you, they may want more space!

[Rosepruner]

oH, I know that my tank is too small, but my apartments won't let me have anything bigger then a 29 gall aquarium. It's full to the top almosst. She can't get her paws on the rim. I have no idea how she is getting out. The only thing I can come up with is she climbed the filter intake or used that to push off or something. I'd love to have a bigger aquarium, I have a 50 gall in storage, but I can't use it. I'm sure I could sneak a 50 gall up to my room, but the manager does come up to my apartment to check the smoke alarms and stuff so I can't hide the 50. The little cute punk. I wish I knew how she was getting out.

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Oh, that's too bad! Maybe you could put some eggcrate on the top of your tank.

[Maltliquor45]

i have bought sheets of plexiglass - and fastened them to the sides of the tank with velcro so it makes the walls higher - esp on the basking area.

easy removal - for clean or whatever.

i have a rubbermaid tub.

[vear]

I don't let people in my apartment! haha. I check the alarms myself. The only person that comes in is the exterminator and anything that shouldn't be seen (i.e. washing machine) gets covered with a sheet so he can't see it.

[jay2487]

build a above tank basking area maybe, if your only allowed to have 29 gal tanks then buy 2 set them next to each other and build a crossing your turtle can use to travel from one tank to another or bask on, making it where he couldn't fall out or go anywhere besides the two tanks. That should fall within your apt's guidelines and give your turtle more room. If not, your going to have to take some water out.

[Rosepruner]

Yeah, see, I'm only supposed to have up to 29 gallons total. wouldn't let him up into the apartment except he's got a key to my apartment for maintenance purposes... student housing really sucks. I actually have 2 turtles, and have them seperated because the male was attacking the female, so I'm pushing my limits with the two tanks going. The boy is in a rubermaid tank that holds about 25 gals when partially full that I hide on the floor... but he doesn't climb out. The only one who is the escape artist is the little girl who's a painted turtle. I really wsh I could give them better homes, but I'm doing what I can right now. Good suggestions all. I think I might try the plexiglass trick when I get some spare time, which might be never, but I need to try something.

[jay2487]

This may be a silly question but how is the apt manager going to know your gallonage unless either he is an aquarist and can look, he brings a tape measure and does a quick volume calculation or you tell him? I've always lived a bit more dangerously but I would probably just sneak a 55gal in and tell him it's a 30gal. If that doesn't work just tell him he's a fascist tyrant who's trampling your rights lol.

[vear]

haha, good one jay2487!

Yeah, student housing does suck. You're in college? How long do you have left to go? Hopefully you can get them bigger tanks when you get out of prison... ooh, I mean, college lol. I know how it is.