Habitat - Indoor :: Finally getting close to getting my babies!

[katie_turtle]

After a very long delay, most of it for the best, I believe, I am finally almost ready to start up my tank. For those who don't remember, my setup is/will look like this.

55 Gallon (48x12x21) Aquarium
Filstar XP L (Got it on sale at DrsFosterSmith for ~$100) - I couldn't justify an extra $125 for something else
Jager 250 Heater
Moss balls
Air pump w/bubbler ring
Thermometer

As of right now, I think I will do no substrate. I will use large decorative river rocks for a little visual interest sparsely placed, but not a full covering. I'll probably get a couple fake plants and maybe one real plant just to see if it can survive with the turt. If I lose it, no biggie, and I'll just give up on real plants as an option.

Based on suggestions, I plan to find/make some sort of hiding spot/cave at the bottom so my turts will feel safe when I get them, and just for a place to chill when they want. I'll also be building a custom basking area from pipe and a nice big rock. That way it will better retain heat once the lights go off, be more natural, and just more visually appealing entirely. Also, I plan to get one or more pieces of mopani to provide, again, more interest, while also giving a way for a second turtle to surface more easily. I'm thinking I'll get one RES and one mud/musk, which is where the mopani comes into play.

When I get my filter in, and while I build my basking area and get the mopani, etc, I will start my tank up with a couple of fish. Based on suggestions, I'll give a go with a tetra and some zebras, or something of that kind. The fish can be there first, and based on some people's observations, they're less likely to be immediately recognized as food by my babies. Again, if they go down, at least it will be for a good cause!

Finally, lights are still yet to be ordered, but it seems like it's hard to go wrong with an Exo Terra Repti Glo 10.0 CFL for UV and a Turtle Tuff for heat, and a simple double fixture to house them.

There are doubtless obvious things I'm missing, so if they're "duh" moments, I probably have them or am getting them, but in general, is there anything I'm missing? Anyone?

[steve]

Sounds exciting, congrats! Everything sounds pretty good, though you don't need an air pump unless it's for decoration. Will you be getting a pair of females?

[katie_turtle]

Thanks Steve. Decoration only. I'm looking at a pair of males, actually, but that said, I'm also thinking just one male RES and a mud/musk instead of a second RES based on aggressiveness concerns.

[steve]

Any male RES would need to be kept alone, unless you will be able to divide the tank. Males just have serious aggression issues.

[katie_turtle]

People waffle on exactly how aggressive they can be, Steve, thanks for being so resolute in your answer. I understand that (usually) they'll leave different species alone if they're sufficiently different and docile, so I'll just get the mud/musk. I'll check with TRLI and see if they have any that I can rescue or something, or see if anyone nearby is looking to place one.

[steve]

I don't know about mud/musk, but it still sounds pretty exciting. Keep us updated!

[katie_turtle]

Absolutely! I'm hoping DrsFosterSmith will be shipping out my filter soon so I can fire up the tank. Unfortunately the backorder got pushed back now, so it's theoretically going to be in stock on the 19th, and hopefully they'll ship then. It's ok, though, it won't matter all that much either way, since the REAL occupants of the tank won't be coming in til at least the end of September. I'm traveling to CA for a surgery on Sep 10th, and would like to have the tank going before then so it'll be healthy for the turtles when I return.

[steve]

Water temp is more important than the filter, so I would just make sure that's ready. Change their outlet to a GFCI outlet and good luck with your surgery!

[katie_turtle]

Good idea, I had forgot about the GFCI!

I definitely have the heater ready to go - the Jager 250 will handle that well.