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Currently I have the standard fish tank style gravel in mine but I am giong to remove it tomorrow when I clean the tank. I want something to cover the bottom and create a ledge on one side of the tank for them to lay on under the water, but...

What kind of rocks should I use?
Will any rock work as long as I wash them off really good?

Meaning, can I go to a Lowe's or other hardware store and buy a bag of large river rocks or the large white marble chip rocks to put in the tank?

Is there anything special about "traditional fish tank rocks/gravels"?

This is what I am looking at using. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

Or this

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

It's really hard to tell about those products because they are bagged. Plain old river rock is fine. Decorative rock is fine as long as it hasn't been treated with anything. Don't use glass or anything that would break easily if your turtle decided to push them around and into each other. Do make sure to give them a good rinse before putting them in. Oh, and don't underestimate the size that will fit in your turtles mouth.

So the main worry would be if it says it has been treated with something. I will make sure and avoid anything like that. I will definitely clean them well first. These rocks are your standard white marble chips that are about 1" or larger.

Turtle-Turtle wrote:Currently I have the standard fish tank style gravel in mine but I am giong to remove it tomorrow when I clean the tank. I want something to cover the bottom and create a ledge on one side of the tank for them to lay on under the water, but...

What kind of rocks should I use?
Will any rock work as long as I wash them off really good?

Meaning, can I go to a Lowe's or other hardware store and buy a bag of large river rocks or the large white marble chip rocks to put in the tank?

Is there anything special about "traditional fish tank rocks/gravels"?

This is what I am looking at using. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

Or this

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=p ... lpage=none

I went the Lowe's route with the marble chips.....After rinsing for three hours, I gave up......I couldn't get the dust rinsed off......I went to a local river and picked up stones from the riverbed......Of course if your not close to a river, you will not be able to collect them.....Try a landscape supply place and see if they will hook you up with some 2-3" river rock stones......

I went the Lowe's route with the marble chips.....After rinsing for three hours, I gave up......I couldn't get the dust rinsed off......I went to a local river and picked up stones from the riverbed......Of course if your not close to a river, you will not be able to collect them.....Try a landscape supply place and see if they will hook you up with some 2-3" river rock stones......[/quote]

Very good idea. I am going to check them out this afternoon.

Look for something smooth like river rocks. You don't want your turtle scraping himself.

I use river rocks, collected from my backyard. I would recommend them over something you get from a hardware store... They are a decent size, easy to clean, and smooth. Like Fishandcandy says, the turt will have a hard time hurting themselves on a river rock.

I would avoid those marble chips for just the reason specified about the dust as well as the sharp edges. Those sharp edges can also scratch up your tank. And that dust which will end up being like sand will also aid in scratching up the tank and the rocks slide across the bottom. Acts like sandpaper.

You can get river rocks at Lowes as well. That's where I bought mine. If you have any arts/crafts type stores around check those as well because they often sell river rocks.

You can also get small bags of river rocks at Walmart and some craft stores (look for ones that say aquarium-safe). You don't need a lot of them.

marisa wrote:You can also get small bags of river rocks at Walmart and some craft stores (look for ones that say aquarium-safe). You don't need a lot of them.

Thanks, I got the small mesh bags of polished river rocks from walmart. Hope they work. Don't want to poison the little guys but I have exhausted my options with where to look.

That's what I've got in mine right now, Turtle-Turtle. They've worked well.

sonyj wrote:That's what I've got in mine right now, Turtle-Turtle. They've worked well.

Thanks...I've only had these little guys/or girls for about a week and love them. I surely don't want to poison them.

This whole turtle things is new to me and I honestly didn't know what kind of care I was getting into when I got them so I am trying to do the best I can for them as I learn more and acquire more room to put them.