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ya if u have any suggestions i would appreciate it

It looks like a nice tank. How big is it? You're going to think I'm an awfully picky person, but:

1.Some of those pieces of gravel are awfully small, though, and if your turtle eats them there could be problems. I'd get rid of the gravel and use some smooth river rocks (enough to make the tank interesting and give your turtle something to play with).

2. Is there a cover over the light? If so, it should be removed since it will block out the UVB rays that your turtle needs (the light is a UVB light, right?). That light by itself won't produce the heat your turtle needs to bask, so a heat light (can be a lightbulb), is necessary.

3. The rocks are interesting, but look rather precarious the way they're positioned. Can they fall? Also, from the pic it doesn't look like your turtle has a basking area he can get on and fully dry off on. (Also necessary for the health of the shell.)

4. Some greenery would add to the look of the tank (and give your turtle something to rest on/hide in.

Where's the water heater? Thermometer?
Marissa makes a good point. That bulb probably dosent produce UVB. I use a reptisun UVB florescent and a T-Rex heat lamp with housing. You need a ceramic housing to funnell the heat downwards towards the basking area

the color looks beautiful, but I have to agree on the big rocks, they do look kind of rough.

this is my dock it is full plastic





PS I have added water since this was taken . . .

ya im a new turtle owner and im used to taking care of lizards. ill be sure to get greenry and i was looking at a turtle dock. http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806023&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302036842&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1130016554701
the bulb was from when he was smaller and i had him in a smaller tank becuase he couldnt find his food in the big one lol. what size bulb would you suggest? I live in florida the water is pretty warm lol.
sometimes i see him try to get turtle sticks off the bottom of the tank and he has some difficutly. i was also looking into getting some snails or some guppies.
thank you

my sticks float . . . .

the dock you have posted I believe is made of styrofoam, they have a tendancey to eat it and it can get moldy and rot.

there are a few people that have it though and it works for them. I am just picky, I went searching until I found a nice plastic one. I love this thing! I can't find it on the web though. They sell it at my local store.

im going to check a couple localy owned pet stores, petco, petsmart, pet supermarket and if they dont have a plastic one ill ask my teacher where she got hers and if she dosent tell me. i might make one or get a good pice of drift wood becuase the wild RES around my house just sit on top of pipes or on logs. And yes my sticks float but after like an hour or 2 they sink.

yeah I tried all kinds of things before I got around to the one I have. I got it at a family owned store.

I actually prefer the zoo-med docks over the all plastic ones because there's nothing for smaller turtles to grip to get up on the dock. Also because they have a ramp in the water, it makes it easier for them to get up on it. You can also get a piece of cork bark but those are difficult to keep stable in a tank so that they get the benefit of the UVB light. Lots of options out there, but you most definitely need something so he can get himself fully out of the water

mikey624 wrote:...what size bulb would you suggest? I live in florida the water is pretty warm lol...

If it remains warm and the water can be constant where you live year round then you can probably get away with not having a water heater, but if it flucuates then you'll need one. Water temp should be 72-75 for older turtles, 78 for hatchlings. A basking light is still important over the basking area. Basking temp should be around 90. RES are cold-blooded and use the basking area/light to thermoregulate their body temperature. A regular household bulb directly over the basking area (along with the UVB light) can be used for their basking light. Be sure to take both temps(water and basking) regularly as this is important to the health of your RES.

Tini, where did you get your plastic dock? I am in Sacramento and would be willing to drive to Vacaville. How large is your turtle?

Pam wrote:Tini, where did you get your plastic dock? I am in Sacramento and would be willing to drive to Vacaville. How large is your turtle?

Western Ranch and Pet Supply

It's only like 16 with tax. Neptune is around 5 inches. They also have a smaller one too.

Also, what size is your tank, just curious

Brianthedog18 wrote:Also, what size is your tank, just curious

I don't know if you were asking me or not . . . but
Er . . . .too small, it's a 40 and we are going to get a new one when my husband gets back. I know he would be better off with a new one now but my husband wants to do it together and share the experience.