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Do all of you have hiding spots for your turtle in your tank? Right now I have a small little castle, but the Turtle can't really fit behind it without being seen. I've heard reptiles like to hide when they get stressed, is it worth taking up the swimming space to get a hiding spot?

Plants of different sizes are all I have as hiding places in the tank right now. They work just fine and allow plenty of swimming space too. He seems to have his favorite ones that he always heads for.

Cool, well my turtle is a little bigger, I was thinking of getting one of those little half log things they sell for him to hide in that would go on the bottom of the tank. What do you think?

It should be fine as long as 1) he has plenty of room to move around and not get stuck in it and 2) it's made to go in water.

Ok, thank you for your quick responses While you're here lol, I'm also thinking of getting a stand for my bulb because right now, it's on a clamp across the tank pointing at the dock, and I hear they work better when they're completely vertical, plus there will be less risk of the clamp falling off.

Is it possible to get a screen top, use the stand and cut a hole in the screen so that the light can get through? This way I can raise the water level more, but the only problem is 1) How do I stop the turt from crawling out of the hole I cut, and 2) I have a filter that hangs off the side. Do you know how to work around this? Thanks for your help sony lol.

Ok sorry, I think I'm going to make this question a seperate post lol

I have a stand for my lights, but I don't have a screen over the tank right now. Sorry I can't help you there.

My stand actually has three arms on it that move/bend so I'm able to use it for both UVB and heat and aim it directly at the basking area. I love this so much better than the clamps we were first using when we got him.

Oh wow, do you have a picture? Where did you get it from?

No fake plants for me, for some reason I think they will get their eyes poked. I'm using my old ESU basking platform as an underwater cave. They like to swim through it even though they can barely fit through.

If you use a screen, you would have to make sure that it has large holes in it. Otherwise the screen could filter out your UVB.

As for a hiding spot, I have a large (diameter) piece of PVC pipe...it's just an elbow piece and not vert long, they love to swim through it and hide in it.

My hiding spots for my turts are under their corkbark basking areas and under the plastic plants that float on the water.

it is possible to get a screen for your tank. i know they sell them at PETCO.. what i use instead of screen is a wire top that is similar to chicken wire. the spaces inbetween are about 3/4 of an inch.. that way they dont effect the lights.i cant remember where i got mine from because ive had it for years.. but i think a place like home depot or lowes would probably be the ideal place to find something like this. it works great because you can just bend the ends over to fit around the side of the tank and since its just wire, you can cut it anywhere u need to quite easily! .. just a suggestion for you because it works great for me

I am using a large plastic crate with one end cut out. I use a heavy sidewalk step stone to hold it down and it creates a cave like area which our turtle loves to hide out in or sleep.

i have a cave which consists of 2 steady square rocks and a large flat rock laying across the top... another thing i use for fish is a large clay pot not sure how good that would b for turtles... the pfc pipes are good the have boxes and boxes of them at home depot