Habitat - Indoor :: Investing In A New Indoor Habitat - LONG Post

[Mnuemonix]

Okay, so if you've read any of my other threads around here, I'm new, and looking to upgrade my turtle's living conditions...My turtle's probably thinkin' (IT'S ABOUT TIME MAN - C'MON!!)

So, I thought I'd see what kind of suggestions you guys would have.

Right now I have only 1 turtle (and some fish until he eats them - they keep getting away!), and it's been determined in the Photo Gallery that he's not a RES, but a Painted. He's approx 6 1/2 inches long from the rear of his shell to the tip.




He most likely outgrew his tank a LOOONG time ago...I took some measurements last night, and apparantly it's only a 16 gallon...Tsk, tsk, tsk, shame on me!

So, I should have somewhere in the neighborhood of a 60 - 80 gallon tank, yes? I've priced a little bit on Petsmart.com, and HOLY COW! they're expensive...I think the average is around $200....I was wondering if you guys thought if an independent might have some better deals?...Being a newlywed we don't have a whole lot of income lying around to make very large purchases, but since my little guy has been spending 20 years in shallow water, I think it's time he be able stretch out a little bit.

That's my next question...It was suggested to me in another thread that I gradually increase the depth of his water, instead of all of a sudden he goes from shallow to deep...I'm afraid of him drowning is the issue...He's been in quite shallow water for 20 years now, and I don't know if he could handle himself in deep water anymore...And also, I've always lined the bottom of his tank with rocks the way you would a fish tank....I've read conflicting reports on the forums between having substrate is good, and then other posts saying you should remove because the turtle will eat it...It's been in there for 20 years and I've never really seen him try to eat it, and he's never been sick.

And then I definitely need to get him a basking light...I did some checking again on Petsmart.com, and their UVB lights are around $45....Is that about the average? The reason I go to Petsmart is I figure that's the one store just about every area has....And again I was told that for heat, you could use a regular type light bulb...But what would be the best wattage for that? 60? 100? And do you purchase a special light to put these bulbs in that attaches to the tank, or do/can you put them in like a regular type desk lamp?

And then the basking area....For the past few years I've been using a halved out log that's generally supposed to be used for small lizards to hide under or bask on top of....When I first put in there, the turtle loved it, and it's been on top of it, or underneath it ever since...It's kind of like a Snoopy house for my turtle...Anyways, when I increase the water level, obviously this won't be sufficient anymore....How do you guys with CORRECT water levels do the basking area? Is there a special kind that clings the walls? And if they use suction cups, will they be able to hold a turtle of mine's size? Most of the pictures that I've seen on the boards are small turtles, and mine's quite large in comparison...And of course, what's the usual going price for one?

I've always at least been set on his diet, so no big problems there.

Umm...And I think that about wraps it up...If you guys think I've missed anything, feel free to post away and educate me!

[rtswim400@yahoo.com]

for the tank it would save you a lot of money to look on craigslist and in the paper for people selling them. also depending on how many pet stores are in your area, look at all of them that have tanks. i know that around me petsmart is way over priced when it comes to tanks. for example at another pet store i could get a 75 gallon for $98. so look around and petsmart prolly isnt gonna have the cheapest tanks, but they are good for other things if you price match with their online store.

[cam722]

Ok, before I commented I had to check up some info on Western Painted Turtles

Do you know if you have a male or female? That would make a bit of a difference in the size tank you get. If you have a male a 75 gallon tank seems that it would do you for life .. a female would need about 100gallons as they get a bit bigger. (Btw, from the picture you posted it appears as if your turtle is only about 5" .. you need to measure the shell without the curve. ) I bought my tank at an independant fish store which had better prices than our Petsmart even. Also, Petsmart will price match with their online prices. You can get the more expensive Mercury Vapor bulbs for his UVB source but I believe most of us use a
compact fluorescent (between 5%-10% UVB). The wattage on the regular bulb would depend on the size of your tank and how close it is to your basking area. The good thing about using these for the heat source is that you probably have different wattages around the house and if not, buying them won't cost you much to experiment. I think many of us just use the clamp lamps you can buy at any hardware store.. ie: Home depot and the like. They cost about $5. Of course you'll need 2 of them.

You definitely need a different basking area since the water will be deeper. I'm not sure if the largest ZooMed basking area will work for an adult. You can look through the gallery and see how others have made out of the tank basking areas but as you said you'll have to acclimate your turtle to all that water. I have a different type of basking area that I believe would work for your size turtle, it doesn't adjust to the water levels but You can move it as you raise the water. If I can find a link to it, I'll make sure to post it.

There are 2 things you didn't mention in your post, the heater and the filter. What are you going to do about those? Oh and as for substrate... another benefit of not having any or having a few larger rocks is the clean up is easier

[Mnuemonix]

Thanks a lot for the tips everybody!!

I can't post a whole lot right now (at work), but as far as his size, you can't tell from the picture, but the ruler is at least a half foot away from the turtle because I couldn't get the ruler next to him and focus the camera properly at the same time.

The 6.5 measurement actually came from me holding the ruler next to him without the camera.

And I think it was deduced in the Photo Gallery section that he is in fact a he.

But here's his bottom again (just in case), and a shot of him chillin' on the floor. :

[sonyj]

If large tanks are out of your price range, check into stock tanks. You can get a 100 gallon for around $68 in our area (feed supply stores). The draw back is that you can't see through the sides like an aquarium, but it provides a more natural environment.

[marisa]

I have some eastern painteds, I use stock tanks. Given what what you've written about how he's been kept, that's a wonderful-looking carapace (what are the white areas on the plastron, or is that just the pic?).

Don't worry about your turtle drowning in deeper water--at his size, he can handle it. Give him plants to rest on if you're worried about his inability to swim.

[Mnuemonix]

The white stuff is just the picture....I just set him on the floor right out of the water, and didn't dry him off....It's just the flash reflection...I noticed that too after I took the picture and checked him immediately...There's nothing there.

So you think he'd be okay going from shallow to deep without transition? That's really my main worry...I'm very nervous about that.

Would a 60 gallon tank be adequate size for him? And when I do get the new tank, I should fill it as high as it can go without risking him hopping over the side, correct?

And I'm thinking about getting new substrate as well...I'm nervous about all the people saying about turtles eating the rocks...Getting some that's larger than what I have now anyways.

And I've been sifting through the photo galleries, and I've seen some basking areas that look like plastic molded to look like rock that is kind of a walkway up out of the water...I think that would be great for me to get since I'm so worried about his swimming ability...I'm just not sure if I could find one large enough.

And thanks again to everybody for helping me out!

[marisa]

I see no real problem. Painted turtles are aquatic. Just give him some plastic plants to rest on. Raise level in a few stages if you're really worried (I don't think you should be. ), about 3/4 full would be good.

[Spookster]

I don't know anything about painted turtles but if that were a RES it would be a she not a he. Do male painted turtles have short claws? If I were you i'd shoot for at least a 90 gallon tank. And you can get creative on a basking area. Above tank basking areas work out great. They are pretty easy to build and frees up the entire tank for swimming and playing and decorations. You can check out my turtle gallery for examples.

[Andrew7769]

walmart has cheap delux tanks i dnt kno u might want to check it out i kno i saw a 55gal in there once

[missibsu]

I have one of the rock looking basking areas that has the walk up ramp. I have two 3.5 - 4 inch res that bask on it at the same time. So, I would think your turt would be ok on it. It's made by ZooMed, and it's a size large. Also, I got a used tank and stand, plus filter from my local classifieds for 180, and I recently saw a 55 plus stand offered for 75. So, keep looking. Good Luck

[Andrew7769]

yes so that shows you keep an eye on the newspapers and also tag sales my friend picked up a 55gal w/stand and everything for 60 bucks at a tag sale

[jn]

some petsotores could of over stocked there tanks and thye could sell for cheaper and as for the uvb light i searched around online and it sold for 50 bucks but then when i went to petco i bought it for 47 but then i went to petsmart and saw it was on clearnece ofr 20 bucks, so you just gotta look around

[Mnuemonix]

I have one of the rock looking basking areas that has the walk up ramp. I have two 3.5 - 4 inch res that bask on it at the same time. So, I would think your turt would be ok on it. It's made by ZooMed, and it's a size large.

How tall is it? Would it be able to reach out of the water of a 60 - 80 gallon tank if I fill it 3/4 full?

And also, thanks for all of the tips everybody!!

I never would've thought of looking at places like Wal-Mart or Target for pet supplies.

I even think our local Meijers has a pet section....Although I feel so horrible for the animals at Meijers, they're all so crampt and poorly kept...I just want to take them all home with me.

But I'm definitely starting to check all of the tips you guys are giving me.

My turtle's going to be soooo excited when he gets his new home!!!!

[missibsu]

I have one of the rock looking basking areas that has the walk up ramp. I have two 3.5 - 4 inch res that bask on it at the same time. So, I would think your turt would be ok on it. It's made by ZooMed, and it's a size large.

How tall is it? Would it be able to reach out of the water of a 60 - 80 gallon tank if I fill it 3/4 full?

It has suction cups that attaches it to the side of thank. So it doesn't loop over the top. It also has bars that it floats up and down on based on the water level. So if water evaporates, or you add water, it should adjust accordingly.