Habitat - Indoor :: Water level in tank for new turtle

[RetroTurtle]

Hi all,

Finding this site very useful. We're new to turtles so I'm doing a lot of reading. I read about the ideal water level in the tank, but also seeing a lot of habitat's shown in this thread. http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15260&start=150 where the tank is all but full of water and then of course having a ramp going up to the basking area. right now our 35 gallon tank is about 1/3 full but I'm thinking maybe it's ok to fill it up well over half if not higher and let Flash have more room to swim around?

Is it better to start with less water until they get used to their new environment and then add more water later?

[steve]

For a healthy turtle, deeper water is not a problem as they are excellent swimmers. Just make sure he can't escape since they are very good climbing and escaping around the basking area so a screen might be necessary. For younger RES, you might want to include additional resting areas.

If you want to be cautious, you can just slowly add to the water level.

[RetroTurtle]

Thanks Steve, she seems to be healthy so I'm assuming she'll be able to swim in deeper water ok. Perhaps we'll add a bit more water every few days until it gets to be about 2/3 full. I'm in the process of building a basket area that she can hang out in and bask, that would suspend from the top of the cage securely and attach a ramp of plastic material into the water so it's easier for her to climb out on.

[steve]

Yea, I wouldn't worry about her swimming abilities. Do keep an eye on things that she might get trapped on or under... in addition to being great climbers and swimmers, they are very curious about their surroundings.

[RetroTurtle]

So far so good on that one Steve, we only have a few rocks on the bottom of the tank right now and one plant, the only other thing is the floating dock that she tends to sit under but she can't get trapped there or anything.

We added another watering can full of water last night, about a 1/2 gallon or so, and we'll continue that every few days till it gets to a nice depth.

Noticed she likes to lift her head up under the water and look towards the light, occasionally sticking her nose out but then going back to the bottom.

[Kansasslider]

TURTLES SWIM? Just kidding. I really couldn't help myself!! Good question. too many times do I see them without enough water. I also notice your new here consider some sand for your tank. TURTLES like sand! Happy turtle watching! My 2 are something else .I have a 40 gal wide breader tank and its filled to within 3" of the top. My kids are about 2" & 3" long.They spend most of the day under water. In the summer they bask a lot but this is the first winter with me and they don't really bask at all? Turtles are strange. Enjoy.

[steve]

Exactly. I can't believe they sell a "turtle tank" that could only be filled half-way. What a waste, but hey it sells and is an improvement over a death bowl.

[Kansasslider]

Yea if your the seller! Of a death trap!I had one of those little plastic things with the fake tree when i was a kid. Not Sure what happened to the turtle . Probably RIP

[RetroTurtle]

Been slowing adding more water over the last week. The tank is about 2/3 full right now. So far she seems to be doing well with adjusting to the tank. I think i'm going to need to add a second filter though for the other side, caddy corner.

I added some river pebbles to the bottom and a few mid size rocks for her to climb on which she seems to enjoy.

[Kansasslider]

Tturtles can eat pebbles and it can kill them. Take them out of your tank.Thats exactly why i suggested sand.

[RetroTurtle]

Not the little tiny pebbles, the river ones a few inches in diameter at least. I'll consider the sand idea too, I see a lot of tank pics on here with it. Plus I assume it would hold the plants better than the rocks so that's a plus.

I'm learning as I go a long.

[Kansasslider]

You said pebbles not river rock thats why I was concerned. Sand will also be easier to clean than rocks. I started with river rock but sand is so much easier to clean.

[RetroTurtle]

No worries, it's all good. I read that you shouldn't use the small pebbles because she might eat them so I stayed away from them and went with the river rocks. thanks for the info!

[Kansasslider]

Your welcome.