Habitat - Indoor :: your opinion

[pkneeyahx]

Hello!
Alright.. I need some expert opinion on my setup. Willy isn't getting any smaller, and I'm getting a bit worried that she's outgrowing her quarters.

Pictures of the setup follow these specs.

The water tank.. 47 gallons, dimensions 30Lx24Wx14H.

The land tank.. 30gallons.. full of sand/compost mix with kentucky blue grass growing with which I regularly rake out and re-plant.

These two tanks are back to back, with a curve of bark used as the platform for Willy to climb into the land part.

Willy's dimensions are 7 inches long, by 5 inches wide.

I know that according to the 10 gallon per inch rule, my setup is too small. But I'm wondering if the rule might not apply in my case, considering I don't sacrifice any water tank space for the basking area. And my tank has a lot of surface area.

I want to upgrade her setup, but there is a good chance we'll be moving soon. We're in the process of buying a new house. When we do, I'll be building a platform to house a 300g rubbermaid stock tank, with the lank area built into the canopy of the setup.. so until that time, I'm stuck.

take a look at the pics and let me know if you think I'm fine for now, or if I'm really pushing it. I'm also curious about it, because even if my suspicions are right about it becoming too small.. I do however think I'm offering more space that a good majority of people with turtle setups.

Thanks for lookin! Here's the pics.

[TexasJagsFan]

I don't know. That is a real cool setup you've made and your cat is pretty!

[STRAYKINGFISHER]

Other than a coat of paint, it looks very nice, I hope mine was that nice, what do you have for lighting and heat source??

[pkneeyahx]

yeah.. I've recently cat-proofed the canopy so they can't reach in and rest their paws on willy while she basks.. :]

the heat source is a Tronics 150W heater with heater guards. the light source is combo light housing unit.. it holds a repti-glo 8 uvb tube, and 3 bulbs. the left bulbs are for daytime.. a plain 40w bulb, and a Sun Glo bulb, the other is just a plain red heat bulb for night time. No timers either. I plan with the new setup to put the lighting all on separate timers.

as for paint, I try to keep anything toxic away from the tank. I realize it would be on the outside.. I also like just the plain basic wood look too.

thanks!

[TexasJagsFan]

How did you make it?

[jenaero]

Adam, I'm sure you know by now that I'm in the same position. Moving soon, want to upgrade now, but can't. The way I see it, if all the other needs are met, space is secondary. I'm not saying that I'd keep a 5 inch res in a 10 gallon or anything like that, but if she's got room to swim around and you're moving soon, she'll be fine for now.

[pkneeyahx]

TexasJags.. the tanks are back to back. the canopy's sides are 2x4s and the top pieces are 1x8 cedar fence board. the top has 4 L brackets for the light housing to sit on, and the cedar planks on either side of the light housing are hinged to open up. I didn't really have a plan set out when I made it. What you see is a hastily made canopy out of the materials for a canopy I initially made for a 140 gallon tank. which I cracked. long story.

jenaero.. yes. there are many people out there who have far dismal living arrangements for their turts than I.

my next setup however does have some sort of plan attached to it though. :]

[TexasJagsFan]

Well that is really cool.