Equipment Review and Discussion :: is redwood toxic for turtles, fish, biofilter? is PVC?

[jay2487]

lol my turtles would have been playing tug of war with that fish

[V Lou]

Oh, that's toooooo funny! Sad, but really funny.... why am I laughing at that?

I was so afraid that swordtail was going to lose. But, you're funny!!

The 10'x6' by 25" or 30 maybe, inflatable swimming pool that I bought online thru Walmart has come in. I think it will fit in the basement for now (still cold outside). I am going to inflate it, leave it dry and let the turtles walk around inside of it to get exercise! They don't have a clue about how lucky they are going to get today!

[jay2487]

If it were those hard plastic kind I would probably be trying to make some huge awesome habitat out of it, I want to do something like that when they get bigger but I like watching them swim around through the glass. Only reason I haven't went for something like that

[V Lou]

Hi Jay,
We are going back and forth b/t posts

I am almost ready to go get that pool. At first I thought I would get the hard plastic kind. I still might, if this one doesn't work out (POP''BanG!!!). But at only ~30 bucks, I'll try.

I looked at stock tanks; 300 gal. tank was around 200 bucks. You can't see through them, like you say, but they could look cool with a deck built around it, access at the back/side for the drain, to drain away from the deck area. Anyway, at $30, this inflatable will be fun to start with and easy to "take down" and store. Oh, and it is clear on the long sides. At least it was in the picture. That's why I chose this particular model.

[jay2487]

Ok, lets just keep it on this post then lol,

I saw some hard plastic ones outside at Walmart the other day, those little toddler slides in them would make a perfect basking area was the first thing to come to mind. You have to post some pics when you get it all together

[V Lou]

I set it up for today, suspending an incandescent bulb to give them a 90F temp zone over a couple of tiles, which were placed on a towel to prevent the plastic pool liner from getting torn. A Coleman air matress pump filled the air chambers pretty quickly and very easily. No water in the pool while I have it indoors. I should call it their exercising arena.

I put the turtles in and you know how they circle the perimeter of any enclosure; well that's what they did. I placed the tile hot spot along their path, and the same with a tray of water, but on the other side of the pool. Plus, I put a pillow underneath at one end, so the turtles would have an incline (exercise device:) to go up and down.

It is pretty cool. I worked on stuff in that room while they walked and walked. I bet it was 3 hours' worth; I had the house heat turned up, naturally. But, yeah, they seemed to be happy. They used the water tray, but weren't impressed with their hot spot, yet. Too nervous to chill under the light. Tomorrow.

But, they were in there long enough to settle down and change their route away from the incessent circling, taking paths across the pool during the last hour. I think they were really comfortable. Even my cats slept near them and we all spent the afternoon listening to the the tiny turtle claw sounds on the pool's relatively thick plastic liner.

They are back in their aquarium now, the lights are cycling off; I didn't want them to miss their evening routine. They swam and yawned and yawned. Really relaxed. It was good for them to get out and stretch and have a change of scenery. I could tell they were happy, getting home after a good turtle workout, all refreshed.

I will post pix after I get past some deadlines that are hitting this weekend.

Do you want to see the pool I bought online (walmart online). Here it is:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/120IN-SWIM-CE ... L/13430767
I really do recommend it I paid for it online, selected the walmart store location for pickup, waited a few days for it to be shipped, and picked it up at that store today. Really easy.

When I set it up outside this spring and fill it with water (230-250gal), I am going to suspend a dock in the middle of the pool for them to get up onto... far enough out in the middle so that they can't reach any side to climb out. I have some styrofoam I've been saving for the dock. I'll bring them in every evening.

Then, after all the setup, I'll sit back and see how long it takes for the resident racoon to puncture it.

[jay2487]

so he died Vlou:( I guess the vet was right on that one

[V Lou]

Tragic. I am truly sorry for you and your family. It's really sad. As they say, he is feeling better now, although it still hurts. Because of you, he did get to learn in his life experience what it feltlike to matter.

I'm very sorry for your loss.