Habitat - Indoor :: Abe's new home

[MrJennings]

It's a new forty gallon tank. He seems to be injoying alot he's swiming like a mad man. Now i know it's bare but this just a start. I will fill the tank up with more stuff soon. He looks so small now

[sonyj]

He does look tiny now. What did you make the basking area out of?

[MrJennings]

Out of pipes and a ceramic tile on top

[sonyj]

There's not glass between the basking and the light, is there? I thought I saw a glare like something was laying up on top of the tank. Maybe it's just the pic... or my eyes

[MrJennings]

nope there is no glass, just the way the pic was took i guess

[marisa]

He looks lost. It looks like a nice tank from the picture, though.

Is that the heat light over the basking area with a flourescent UVB light tube to the right? If so, try to position the UVB light more over the basking area/postition the basking area so that your turtle is under both of them as much as possible. He'll benefit from the UVB rays more.

[BigCT]

I'll second Marisa.

Water will block all the UVB radiation. UVB needs to be over the basking area and try not to get more than 12 inches away.

[marisa]

Water doesn't actually block all UVB rays (like glass does), and depending on the strength of the lighting, can penetrate a depth of a few inches. BUT, since UVB lights are really weak compared to the sun to begin with, your turtle doesn't benefit with the light over the water. Can you move the basking area over more if you can get the light closer?

[JessicaTS]

Maybe a little bit of fake plants to make it more homey. Especially if your turts a young one

[jenaero]

I have to jump in here and tell you that the water level looks a little high because of where the basking spot is. Looks like he could climb out easily if he tried. And believe me, there's nothing scarier than tearing your house apart looking for an escapee.

[MrJennings]

Yeah he is not going to climb out right now not big enough maybe when he grows.

Oh and will add stuff soon enough, and he is not young just small, he is approximitely 5 years old.

[marisa]

Maybe you said this previously, but what's his shell length (not including the curve)?

[MrJennings]

about 3.5 inch

[marisa]

I remember now (went back to one of your earlier posts).