Equipment Review and Discussion :: Long Tanks?

[Brianthedog18]

I heard that Long tanks are better for the turt because he gets more swimming room. I've been looking around for one, and I've been to various sites and cannot find any. I want a 30 gallon long tank ( I might ask for it for my birthday =) Do you know where I can find one and how much it would cost? Thanks

[cam722]

We were just at petsmart yesterday and they had a large variety of tanks, not sure if they had a 30L though. I know our regular pet store has some 'critter" tanks but they aren't guaranteed to hold water.. or to not break or something like that.

I'd just do some looking around online for a general price range but buy it locally.. you may want to check out the newspaper, for garage sales, etc. You can find good bargains there. .well supposedly I just never seem to find those things Good luck.

[steve]

The http://www.glasscages.com/ site is very popular with some people...

I also know there are some people on ebay who sell custom tanks, you could probably email them about a tank with custom dimensions.

[TurtleBot]

I have a 40 gallon Long tank and I absolutly love it! Keep an eye out at garage sales--I see them in the paper quite frequently.

[siouxsiecat]

Thumbs up on the 40 Long. Looks great.

-AC

[Vanhaliz1]

I've been trying to find a custom tank builder who ships also. Any names you can come up with would really help. I need someone who can not just build a tank, but but filter holes in the sides.

[fishandcandy]

I've been trying to find a custom tank builder who ships also. Any names you can come up with would really help. I need someone who can not just build a tank, but but filter holes in the sides.

Do you mean the square cut-outs to hang the filter on?

[Vanhaliz1]

Yeah, the cut outs for filters.

[cam722]

Those types of tanks are not recommended for aquatic turtles because it limits the amount you can fill the tank. You should get a regular tank without cut outs and use either a canister or over the top filter as this will allow you to fill the tank as high as possible as long as it doesn't allow the turtle to escape. The cut outs also weaken the glass and allow for possible breakage.

[Vanhaliz1]

I did some initial research and I found that they tend to do better in 5- 6 inches of water rather than a whole tank. Plus when they get bigger, they try to escape when the tank is filled. They also tend to like a lot of things to bask on. Mine seem to bask for several hours a day. It is also easier to have a mesh top on the tank so that I can put the appropriate lighting on the top.

[daredevilgirl013]

Five to six inches isn't a lot. These turtles in the wild don't live in five to six inches of water, they live in ponds and lakes and things like that. I've seen them before in the lake that I go to for summer break. My turtle is in at least a foot of water and he loves it. He is constantly playing and swimming and he couldn't be doing better. I wouldn't dream of putting him in such little amounts of water.

[cam722]

I did some initial research and I found that they tend to do better in 5- 6 inches of water rather than a whole tank. Plus when they get bigger, they try to escape when the tank is filled. They also tend to like a lot of things to bask on. Mine seem to bask for several hours a day. It is also easier to have a mesh top on the tank so that I can put the appropriate lighting on the top.

Where did you read that they do better in only 5-6 inches of water? In the wild they live in ponds and lakes that are a lot more than 5-6 inches deep. An adult female RES can measure up to 12" in length and 5-6 inches of water isn't even sufficient for it to be fully submersed. RES are aquatic turtles that LOVE to swim. The more space they have to swim, the happier and healthier your turtle will be. Yes, they need a place to bask and proper lighting but just as important is an adequate amount of water. They don't need a LOT of things to bask on, they just need one thing to be able to completely get out of the water and dry off, both the shell and the carapace.