Habitat - Indoor :: I'm so excited!

[Jet]

Squirt is finally moving! We got his new 50 gallon tank! Yahoo!!!

I am building the stand today and should have him moved in by tomorrow. I need some expert advice (what else is new). I'm not going to put alot of stuff in the tank, NO ROCK! But I would like to put a plant in there for him to munch on and was thinking of using some big rocks from my yard to weight them. If I took some large rocks and washed them very well and piled them into a corner of the tank with the plant would that work? Also what type of plants, the pet store I go to here in Seattle does not carry one of the plants mentioned previously and of course I can't remember the name begins with an A I think. How long can you keep a plant before it mucks up the water or does it?
Other than his basking platform I plan to leave the tank as open as possible, he's been cramped for so long that I want him to have as much room as possible to swim.
Thanks for all your help!

[untsmurf]

Were you talking about anacharis? I think there's a list on the nutrition forum of the plants they can eat. And you might want to put a few fake plants in there too, for cover.

If you use rocks from your yard, make sure and heavily wash and rinse them. You can bake it or freeze it or use bleach, but make sure it's completely fine before you put it in the tank. Then make sure that the turtle couldn't move them and hurt himself.

Take some pics!!

[Jet]

Thanx! I clean his tank and platform with bleach so I'm glad I can do that with the rock too. Baking them sounds like a great idea, I've never thought of that but I think I will do that too.
I was thinking of the anacharis and that is the plant the pet store does not carry. I'll check the list and compare to what they have.
Thanx again, I can't wait to get him moved in ( am I excited or what??)!

[untsmurf]

You have every right to be excited, this is exciting stuff!!

Just make sure when you're using the bleach that it is a tiny amount and that it is THOROUGHLY rinsed off before you put it back in the tank

Sounds like you're doing lots of research, way to go!

[Jet]

I have never owned a turtle we only got this guy because my son was asking for one. We got him from our neighbor who had him living in his garage with only a floursent light nothing else. He was pretty sick when we got him. I never knew how much they needed so this site was a godsend and all the experts here are just the best. It's taken some learning but I think we're all on the right track now. I can't think of being responsible for this little life and not doing the best for him.
Thanx for the help and the vote of confidence!

[untsmurf]

No problemo!! I'd love to see pics when you're done.. Heck I'd love to see them when you aren't done