Habitat - Indoor :: New RES turtle owner! Let's see your tank setup for ideas :)

[n2vdubz]

Hello everyone. I'm still a newbie to the site, and have just become a proud red eared slider turtle owner!

I'm interested in how everyone has setup their tanks for their little ones (pics please), and if any of you have had any problems with a certain setup or addition to your tank.

At the moment I have a 30 gallon long tank that I have setup with a large piece of slate on the left (so Tardy can bask) where I also have the heat lamp over it. To the right I have the UV lamp which I have on during the day time so Tardy can get her sunlight and all that good stuff so she can grow to be a happy and healthy turtle.

Any ideas on neat setups that won't be so boring for my turtle, or anything I need to get for the tank. I will try and get some pictures of the tank and Tardy shortly.

I really appreciate your help everyone.

- Jamie, A very excited red eared slider owner

[SpotsMama]

Hi Jamie! Congratulations on becoming the parent of a RES!

There are a bunch of pictures in the Photograph forum. There are also quite a few in the Indoor Habitat forum. Why don't you do a Search on "tank" or "setup" and see if you don't get a lot of ideas.

[n2vdubz]

Thanks for the info. I can't wait to play around some more with my tank setup.

[liberation nyc]

Hi All,

I'm new...and I have to say whoever put this site together did a great job! I have been to so many visually traumatizing sites the past few days so it's nice to be able to find info quickly!

I just bought two res in Chinatown in NY. I know, they're illegal, but the turtles I have bought in pet stores usually die and when I buy them through the mail from breeders...lets just say turtles aren't meant to travel through the postal system.

Each turtle is about an inch long and for now I have them in a 10 gallon tank. I bought them a heater so I can keep their water around 78-80 degrees. I have a filter in there and I also got them a little dock (it's hard to see in the photo) for them to come out of the water and chill in front of their light.

My only concern is the tanks previous tenants...the fish. I put them in a fishbowl for a day but they REALLY weren't into that so I put the two small fish and the three Kuhli Loaches back into the tank with the turtles. Is that OK? I normally wouldn't do that but they would have died in the smaller bowl...and I don't have the room for multiple tanks in a NY apartment.

Here are some pics. Any feedback / thoughts are appreciated. I have learned a lot from reading the board the past few days! MUCH more informative than other sites!

Thanks!

Liberation

[n2vdubz]

Nice little setup you've got. How are your turtles with the rocks on the bottom. The guy I got mine from warned me about rocks, and how sometimes they try to eat them....hehe

I have a pretty blank bottom in my tank, except for a sunning rock with a heat lamp for Tardy to bask on that is off to one side.

[liberation nyc]

Thanks!

As of now I am not too concerned because the gravel is about the same size, if not bigger, than their tiny heads. Once they get a bit bigger I'll most likely remove the gravel. It will make cleaning much easier too.

I'm going to wait to invest anymore in the tank until I am sure they are going to stick around a while, lol. I figure if they make it a month then that's a good sign.

[MrScratchTheRES]

use river rock.. it's sold in big bags at gadern supply stores and is usually sold sterile.. which is a big plus on keeping him healthy. 2 big to eat and a good value 2. And they look great. I'd avoid colored rocks like the ones pictured above. The paint chips off and paint chips floating in the water are just bad news.

[wetchikn]

I would go ahead and remove the gravel now just to be safe.

[sneakyburrito]

Welcome to the site. heers my setup: 29 gallon tank, 2 whisperer filters, 1 hanging filter, 2 water heaters, a turtle dock, a basking lamp as well as a 7% UVB lamp.

[CountryGirl68]

Liberation, anything in the tank can become food for your turtles. If you want to keep your fish, you will need to get them a separate setup from the turtles.

[liberation nyc]

Got it, thanks!

I noticed the turtles seemed a bit nippy today towards the KL's lol.

[SpotsMama]

Hi Liberation,

This is a nice site, isn't it. I think Steve is the designer.

Those posts on how important it is to get the gravel out are right on target. I've seen several very sad posts on here from people who thought the gravel was too small for their turts to swallow but.....you can fill in the blanks. Very sad. Would hate for your cute little guys to get into trouble.

Am I missing something or is there not a basking place for your turts? They'll need a spot where they can get out of the water every day and dry out completely under a nice warm lamp and good UVB rays. This will keep their shells healthy.

[flutterby]

I would take those khuli loaches out or they very well may get eaten. And I wouldn't want to see that happen. I know I'm weird I think they're cute.

[liberation nyc]

Am I missing something or is there not a basking place for your turts? They'll need a spot where they can get out of the water every day and dry out completely under a nice warm lamp and good UVB rays. This will keep their shells healthy.

It's hard to see from the photo but in the back, righthand corner there is a little island that is suction-cupped to the wall for them to crawl out and chill on.

I'll dup the gravel tomorrow.

Thanks!

[SpotsMama]

How cute - they "chill" in a warm spot!