Habitat - Indoor :: Hello, Im a newbie

[mikeandmurdock]

ok Ive read most of the site. I have had my RES Murdock for 2 days. Im looking to get him this tank.

http://www.petlanddiscounts.com/detail. ... _id=460692


is there anything else I am forgetting?

[missibsu]

Welcome!

The tank is great for a hatchling, but Murdock will quickly outgrow it. If you can afford to go larger now, it will save in costly upgrades.

Also, don't forget the heater, the filter, proper lighting, themometers, and a basking area.

[mikeandmurdock]

How much bigger should I get? How fast do they grow?

[flutterby]

Missi is right, get the biggest you can afford and it will save you money in the long run. Depending on the water temps and if you feed them too much protien they can grow fast (though this is VERY unhealthy). I believe recommended growth is an inch a year.

[steve]

Personally, I would not buy anything smaller than a 60 gallon tank. Plastic storage containers are very suitable and inexpensive. A 40 gallon tub should not be hard to find. You can save some money now and give your turtle much more room. They may not look the nicest, but they are a wise choice for the first couple of years.

[missibsu]

The other thing you can do is browse for used. www.craigslist.com has come good deals from time to time, and www.freecycle.org might get you something. The thing with freecycle is that most people aren't giving away tanks that size.

An inch a year is good growth, but hatchlings will tend to grow a little more. If you have a hatchling, then like Steve said, at least 60 gallons. If you have an adult RES, then base what you choose on the size he/she is now. eg. If he is 4 inches now and you get a 60 gallon tank, it is only going to be good for a couple of years.

[marisa]

Your turtle is a hatchling? If so, and if you were to get a 20-gallon tank (I said if...), for turtles, it would be better to get a 20-gallon long, not high (more horizontal swimming area). Bigger is better, though. You could get a 40-gallon stock tank for much less money, which would last your turtle longer than a 20-gallon tank (or you could go even bigger).

[mikeandmurdock]

i guess he is a hatching, im not sure, hes about 1 1/2 inches.. I got him a 10 gallon tank right now because thats all the space i can spare for now. next year ill worry about getting a bigger one. Quick question. I got a 3 lights with the top of my tank and i read on the site that a night light, or a moon lamp is not good for them, the dude at pet land told me to use it. also when should i have the uv lamp on, and when should i have the regular lamp on?

[jenaero]

Have the uvb and heat lamp on roughly 12 hours a day. They don't need a night light as long as the room temp is warm enough. There's a good chance you won't be able to wait a year for a larger tank so try to get one sooner. Even if you go get a rubbermaid tub. I got a 46gal rubbermaid for $15.

[flutterby]

I got a 3 lights with the top of my tank and i read on the site that a night light, or a moon lamp is not good for them, the dude at pet land told me to use it.

Just a word of warning, most people at petstores have absolutely no clue what they're talking about. Their job is to sell products and make money. So do your research first, go in knowing what you need instead of listening to the "dude" at the petstore.

[missibsu]

Is your light just a UV light, or a UVB, if it doesn't say UVB specifically, then it probably isn't. Best to be sure that you really have what you need.

[grey goose]

If you buy him that system, in 6 months you'll say, "Oh my god Murdock! What was I thinking?" Shop around, and get the biggest tank and filter you can afford NOW.

[mikeandmurdock]

money isnt an issue, its space that im limited. he really seems to like sitting on the filter. is that normal?

[marisa]

If he's 1.5 inches now, he ideally should be in at least a 20-gallon, and if he's in that, it should be upgraded soon. (Those Rubbermaid or Sterilite storage tanks make good temporary homes.)

He needs a UVB light (regular UVB lights are flourescent, and the package specifically says they give off UVB rays) and a heat source, which can be a regular lightbulb. Try to mimic the seasons, a bit longer in the summer, a bit shorter in the winter, an average of 12 hours a day on is fine. The moon light won't do anything for him.

He probably likes to sit on the filter because of vibration from the motor. When he sits on the filter, is he out of the water? If so, it sounds like you have a low water level. You can increase it to give him more swimming space, but don't make it high enough for him to be able to escape.

[mikeandmurdock]

ok i got him a heater today. the water was already at 80 degrees. I guess once i turn the lights off the temp would go down, thats when ill turn the heater on. i moved the filter in a different position so he doesn't just sit on it.