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

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

imderanged, i thought you sounded familer!! my aunt's dog is named ziggy. she likes to tell me for a different reason, but i think the is a secret DB fan! you gotta love him!

don't worry, chrisbarnett, the gravel is already out. when i first read about that here, i thought, "no, not my money." then i caught him and quickly took out all the gravel, that was about two months ago. now all she has in there are those plastic blue/lt. blue/clear bead things (larger than her head) and some groovy glow in the dark/blacklight shell designed things. those are also plastic and some equal to or larger than her head. here is a pic, are they ok? now, when she is moved to a tank, these things will not move with her, i am thinking about river rocks. (with little tid bits of her food, she just ate! yum-o!) the green thing you see is the rubber grip stuff the container is on so she doesn't go moving around.

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

any good online resources that you guys know of that i can do some searches for supplies would also be helpful. all i know of is petsmart and they are not very helpful with the kind of equipment needed for res turtles (like tank size and 100watts stuff). thanks!

[mzkitty23]

lots of people seem compelled to get them a friend, but from what I've read they actually like being alone better and I've read lots of horrible stories about them hurting each other or killing...so unless you are completely prepared to be able to seperate them if needed (which means TWO large, proper habitats) I wouldn't get an additional one.

Also, if you are trying to get her a good habitat on a budget...remember you don't have to start out with the super expensive glass tank if you really can't..there's lots of people on here that can help you with that. i've seen some really nice habitats done inexpensively and/or knowing where and what brands to buy of things. there really is a lot to buy, not counting the tank. trust me i found that out! I know me personally I was about to go buy a $45 UVB bulb because I thought it was the one I had to have until someone told me a good one to buy that was 12 bucks...that's just one example. So, don't hesitate to ask about stuff like that!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

yeah, i've been thinking more about getting her a friend and since she hasn't had anyone else since bowie way back when, why rock her boat and my wallet even more with a BIGGER tank?

i do want to get the "forever" tank. but she may have to settle for a 50gal for now and later up grade to the final forever tank. (and then just get tropical fish in the 50gal, but do research first!) she's had several small containers like i mentioned in my first post. i had to keep getting different ones with higher sides and/or nothing she can grab a hold to so she can't climb out of. even though, nothing is funnier than seeing a pittbull dog running scarred out of a kitchen because there is a turtle running across the floor! (it happened a little over 2 years ago) and believe me, i am asking for all the help you guys can give. (already given so much!) i have copied the required list of items needed, though the checklist page is under maintanence rightnow and have been yahoo-ing some things and i am having absolutly no luck. so please, any info, give me! and what the heck is a aerator? is that the air bubble maker thingy (i know, scientific term)? i don't know supply lingo, yet! i have looked at other foroms and know that whatever these are, these are good things: RENA Filstar XP4 (or XP3) Canister Filter, Tetra Whisper Air Pump with a Jager 100w heater, Vistherm Stealth heater (not glass!). but if i get the Tetra Whisper Air Pump with a Jager 100w heater do i still need a Vistherm Stealth heater? i know, probably stupid questions, but i have no idea what the hell these things are! HELP!! and yes, i am on a super budget!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

ok, so i found a website www.drsfostersmith.com and from what i have gathered here this is my draft list of stuff needed, check me. i am going with: Stealth Heater ($17), aerator 24" wand ($6), Whisper Air Pump Model #40 ($12), 10" black reflector domes (2-$15), Zoo Med Halogen bulb for basking 50w ($13), ATI Safety Thermomet ($3), Python No Spill Clean N' Fill 25' ($32), Hagen AquaClear Powerfilters one suggested on site page ($35), Daytime Blue Reptile Blubs UVA 100w ($5). total: $153. that's what i have so far, of course, that is not including the tank. did i miss something or have something not needed or wrong? let me know!

[Take-One]

Is your turtles shell soft? And turtles dont usally get along with each other.

[imderanged]

You could probably skip the basking bulb and daytime blue bulb and use a regular house bulb from the hardware store to save cash. But you are going to need a UVB bulb. If you are going to get a compact florecent then I would sugest a "deep" dome for that light, as the bulbs are a bit longer and may stick out of the regular lamp. At the 50 gallon size, it might be OK to go to a Mercury Vapor Bulb (another more experienced poster might want to either back me up on that or correct me) I got a MVB for my 75 gallon and it throws both UVB light and heat. I really like not having to try and position 2 lamps in the same space, and Sy seems to be basking more, and getting more of the benifit of the UVB. I actually have the Powersun, But some people have told me they like this bulb better, and its cheaper...PS it fits in the regular dome, so if you decide to go this way, disregard what I said about the deep dome fixture.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=7327
I would also think about going one size up with the filter to the 300/70gal. I looked at the website (I use them all the time too. I like that company) and the $35 dollar Aqua clear filter is rated for 50gal/200gph. The 50 gal rating is for fish though, not turtles. for a 50 gallon turtle tank you want atleast 250gph and its better to overfilter than to underfilter. I think you'll find the extra $12 will be well worth it when it come time for cleaning!

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

yes, her shell is hard. i checked it today while i was "bathing" her and cleaning her container. it used to be soft around the tail area, but sold as a rock now.
you will have to excuse all my questions, this is all new and kind of confusing. so let me get this right, on the light part. all i really need is the regular house bulb (what wattage?) and a t-rex active uv heat bulb (uva/uvb at 100w? from the link)? now, would that uv bulb still require a deep dome or is the 10" black reflector dome ok? and i am going to go with the 70 gal filter instead, thanks i didn't take into account that it really is for fish not turtles.
drsfostersmith.com has been the best website i could find that has all the supplies needed. before i purchase any items, i am going to go into petsmart and just compare prices but keep items/brands same.

[zoologist]

you dont need the bubblewand/aerator if you don't want one, by the way. Save money for a UVB (at least 8.0) light by using a normal 60-100 watt house bulb.

Imderanged i agree with the MVB. here is an awesome link for a $40 one (that way you only need one bulb instead of two) http://www.reptileuv.com/megaray-sb-100 ... b-lamp.php

petsmart will usually give you the same price as a competitor if you bring in the ad, by the way

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

for the MVB, do i need a "deep" dome or is the 10" reflector dome still ok? thanks for the petsmart f.y.i.! is the whisper air pump still needed if the aerator isn't?

[imderanged]

If you get the MVB then you only need one bulb, and the regular dome will house it...but you will need to get the light 12 " from the basking platform.
I hung mine over the basking area with a plant hanger...like this:

I use a digital lazer thermometer to check the temps and just the MVB keeps the basking spot plenty warm enough.

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

that's pretty groovy, i was thinking about maybe using a clamp light. fully extended, it's length is 13 1/2 inches.

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

ok, i think i have the appropriate items needed list, check me: Visi-Therm Stealth Heater 150w ($17), Hagen AquaClear Powerfilters 70gal ($47), ATI Safety Thermometer-2 ($5), Turtle Dock-medium ($15), Mega-Ray SB 100w UV/Heat bulb-MVB ($40), Clamp Light ($16) and a 50 gllon tank which i am going to check out and hopefully get tomorrow. i checked e-bay and craigslist for the tank, but neither had EXACTALLY what i am looking for. did i miss anything?

[mzkitty23]

you will prob need a large turtle dock. my guy won't even fit on a medium and u'rs is a girl, so prob. bigger (but i guess it depends on the brand of turtle dock.) make sure u have a thermometer for the water AND the basking area.

p.s. let me know if u need help getting her to eat the correct diet (i've been working on this for my guy too)

[Money-Green Rocks!!]

that's the thing, on the website it says the measurements for the medium turtle dock is 15 1/2" x 7" and the large is 18" x 9" i don't know if that is including the climb up ramp or just that basking area (drsfostersmith.com)?
isn't that why i have to get the 2 thermometers for? i just went back to the site, had to change the thermometers to Hagen Thermometers plastic with suction cups to stay in place. i just put one somewhere in the tank (mid-area) and up against the tank on the basking area???? money, unfortunately, has only had the diet of those turtle food pellets. i tried many several times veggies, but no go on that. so, i was thinking once the tank is set up and she is setting, trying those feeder fish???

p.s. i really see now that i have been doing it all wrong. but atleast she is healthy!!