Habitat - Indoor :: Gathering information on indoor habitats for school project!

[Melon]

Hello people, I'm quite new on here. I'm a design student currently working on a project to design a turtle enclosure that doubles up as a table to better utilize floor spacing. Constant feedback from my lecturers is that my designs are "too big", despite me going through my research on turtle tank sizing requirements, leading my designs to be downsizing repeatedly to the point where it's only 60 gallons worth of water. I'm still receiving the same feedback and I'm really oppressed by their comments on how the OWNER is more important than the ANIMAL, and that my persona would be unwilling to sacrifice their own home space.

I pose a few questions to the community relevant to their feedback, hoping to present this as persona feedback:

1. Is it preferable to prepare a setup for a fully grown turtle right from the beginning, or to keep increasing the enclosure's size as the turtle grows?
2. How much floor space does your set up take? (e.g 1m x 0.6m, 40in x 20in, etc.), and is 1m x 0.6m of floor space too much to dedicate to one turtle?
3. If an enclosure's specifications do not meet the requirements of the turtle, would you purchase the product?
4. Would water currents be a good idea within an enclosure to simulate a "larger tank"? Why or why not?
5. What kind of house do you live in, and is the enclosure within the living room?

Please, if you are from Singapore, do mention it. Any feedback from a HDB within Singapore is extremely valuable as that is one of the size factors I can't out-argue with them about.

All four questions relate to my lecturers' feedbacks, being:
"How long would this tank size last for a turtle?"
"No one would buy anything this large" despite me pointing out turtle requirements and existing table sizes
"Maybe you could use water currents to simulate a larger tank, kind of like a treadmill so they still get the exercise of swimming a longer distance without needing more space" this sounds a little questionable, however I've found mixed results searching on this topic, and would like to hear your feedback on this as well.
To anyone who is doing me the incredible favour of answering these questions, I sincerely thank you.

[litefoot]

1)I’m an old timer only doing this 56 years (RES’s). Even for a baby RES I always setup an adult home. Saves on all those costly inadequate small setup’s/ upgrades as it grow’s. Those cute little babies on some breed’s grow up very big as in RES’s needing large homes. That baby face is then gone becoming a handsome turtle to me. For “me” 150 gallon to start with .

2) To help on cost I use indoors Rubbermaid structural foam stock tanks 150 gallons (3’X5’) only . I have a couple tanks over 25 years old and will last forever. Cost 1/4th that of a glass tank that size.

3)Even that size to me is small for a RES ! When we make a living animal a captive pet one must do whats correct for the turtle breed. RES’s are known to travel miles just to find another pond better suited for it. No matter what part of the world one lives in they can be creative on what type / size container to use for a proper size home other than a glass tank.

4)To me offering currents give much needed exercise to a turtle in a confined space . My Piggley has it’s own swim spa / current area.

5 My tank is indoors in average old US home. My chair is directly next to it so I can play with my Piggley. Turtles are just like children needing attention !

Try focusing more on the different habitat needs more with your info to them. Emphasize the homework needed to be done. One can not get a cooter which will need a two hundred gallon water area not even counting the land area for basking when they only have space for a mini turtle that only needs a 40 gallon tank. Offer several different setup designs like for land turtles , semi aquatic and full aquatic turtles all being very different especially in size . Not all breeds need the same size tanks. Different breeds like musk/mud being smaller can have a smaller tank. Slider’s larger and cooter’s very large tank really an outdoor pond do to they very large size. It is also said if you can’t afford to have a proper home for a living pet you made captive that relies on care from you then you most likely cannot afford a vet if needed. Too many in this hobby justify to "themselves" a size habitat by how much money they are willing to spend on a pet. That's were horror stories come from , the internet if full of them. Despite one intentions a proper habitat for the size turtle is needed to have a happy / healthy pet. If not offered then you can not afford a pet ! We are talking about a living animal ! Also lot's of homework needed , one will become a lighting specialist , ecologist on habitats , hydrologist on water , herpetology for illness , dietitian , mechanical engineering and safety technician !

I a'm one of many in the US that believe prerequisites are needed for pet ownership. Being retired I now am lobbying for it , also volunteer at my local Humane Society. Some counrties have them , even some states here have them to a point, maybe all one day will for any living animal we make captive.

[steve]

1-go large as soon as you can.
2-i have a 125 gallon and 90 gallon side by side
3-use your best judgement but be creative. you do not need to have a glass aquarium for an aquatic turtle.
4-current helps circulate the water. too much in a small tank with a small turtle could be dangerous.
5-normal sized place
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A turtle, like any other living creature, carries huge responsibilities. It is unfortunate that many think less of them or are uninformed about their basic requirements. Prepare to invest financially and in time as you would with a cat or dog.

[PokePony]

2. I am one of those people who don't calculate their tank by the gallon, but the dimensions Like so:

4. Water current is good for tanks, but I'm not sure if it's really necessary with turtles. They move around a lot. If you have the money go for it, if not, it's not a problem.
5. I live at my parents and my tank is in a spare bedroom, so I can switch the light off when I need to. It's a bad idea to keep your tank in a corridor or a commonly used room, because you can't turn off the lights when your turtles need sleep.