. So, I got creative mind working and wound up at Home Depot hardware store. I bought a 24"x18" sheet of pexiglass. I also bought a pexiglass cutter and some clear aquarium sealer. I cut the glass the exact width of my 90 gallon tank and then made it about 16 inches wide the other way. My redear is about 8 inches shell length maybe 9. I was able to cut the glass so exact that i really didnt even need the aquarium glue. I liked that because its ez to slide it out of the tank when I clean her tank, (which is every day). She is the only turtle I have in a 90 gallon tank with 4 submersible filters.
I also have a pair of plecos (suckerfish) in their with bubbles. I tried an experiment a few months back by getting the two fish to help keep the tank clean. I also thought she needed some sort of company when I was at work. lol To my surprise, she didnt eat the lil buggers. When I first got the two sucker fish they were feeder fish size (1inch). and now 3 months later they are 5 inches possibly 6 inches long. I never feed them because they hangout underneath her hammock and get all they can handle.
The pexiglass is great for basking area etc but I knew she needed more exposure to the light to keep her healthy. I found something that is the best thing to ensure your turtle gets the light she needs. Ive turned a freind who has a turtle onto this as well and he is so greatful. At the pet store I saw these triangle mesh material things that had a suction cup in each corner. Looking closely I seen that it was made for lizrds to hang on the sides of terrariums. I got my mind to wondering of I could get one of these in the corner of my tank and would it support my turtles wieght? So I bought one and OMFG she stays on it 85% of the day and night. Its like a hammock the way I have it with the center triangle part in the corner about 3 inches from water level and the other two ends extending as far as I can on the two sides of the aquarium at water level.( makes it tight). She even bounces on it like a trampoline when she sees I brought her a fully cooked baked chicken home from the grocery store. LOL Thats how I won bubbles over was the chicken. But thats another story. Anyways, I think its the best and most valuable thing I have for her in the aquarium because her shell is so close to the surface of the tank she is getting the vitamin D she needs. When she was really shy her not basking worried me and the hammock was a load off my mind. Now she stands on my hand and lets me take her for trips around the aquarium.
Like I said My tank is 90 gallons and the water is filled all the way to 6 inches from the top. The pexiglass is about 1 inch above the water on one end of the tank with about 1 inch clearance from the wall for the filters electrical cords. I had a 20 gallon tank in the beginning but in my opinion so cruel. I think even the 90 gallon is to small for one turtle, but I have spent hundreds of dollars in tanks this past year and its gonna have to do for now.
When i bought her, last Oct, the dumbies at the pet store sold me a 20 gallon tank for a 5 inch slider. Thats crazy and inhumane. So, I realized it was not right after a few weeks and went back and got the 40gallon for 160.00. After 3 months, I went again and got the 90 gallon for 200.00 as I knew then, what was really required to keep a water turtle healthy and HAPPY.
Anyways, Im not an authority on turtles by any means, this is just what Ive discovered in the past 10 months living with bubbles. As a matter of fact the hammok idea saved her life because she was getting all the white stringy stuff on her all the time. I had to bathe her in salt to get it off. But now she never has any problems and she loves to get on the hammok and watch tv. Thats another story Ill tell some other time. But, Yes, turtles(redear) can be trained to be "cuddly" pets. Bubbles would amaze most people on how freindly she has become and how smart she really is..... Next, Im buying her a leash!
Macdf2