Habitat - Indoor :: decisions.. decisions

[cam722]

Ok, I'm giving in and upgrading before I find a new place to move. I'm also giving in to my daughter (flutterby) and giving her one of my turtles... tired of the HINT HINT HINT stuff, not to mention 3 turtles are difficult to keep up with.

Now, I just need to decide what size tank to get. Well not the size but the "shape".. seems to me a long tank is better than a tall tank as we don't need to worry about depth but more swimming space and again, it seems to me a long tank would give more side to side swimming than depth.

Ok, so you all give me your opinion and help me make an "informed" decision... I know you ALL have opinions so don't be shy *SMILE*

[therizman1]

I would prefer a long tank. Some tall tanks actually can get so tall that they are difficult to clean, and you never have that problem with a long tank. Also, dont want to make the turtles swim up too far to get air and stuff, and really either way, they have the same amount of swimming room.

[marisa]

For turtles, a long tank is better--a long tank offers a better footprint (more surface area) for swimming. (Although a bigger one that's higher also gives more room, the turtle is gaining room vertically rather than horizontally, and you want him to be swimming horizontally.)

[cam722]

Ok, you are saying exactly what I was thinking.. just didn't say it properly

[TrooperRES]

long for sure, u can put more and bigger stuff at the bottom too when the tank is longer. not everybody fills the tank all the way to the top, so making it longer would maximize swimming space for those who do that.

[jenaero]

hmm...long definetly. More swimming space. Turts swim around more than they swim up and down. I think they look nicer too.

[steve]

i agree with going long. also, if you can, get one that's wider too...

[BigCT]

I'll 2nd the Wide tank. the standard 55 gallon is only like 12 or 13in wide. a 50 or 40 gallon breeder is like 18in wide.

[cam722]

Ok, where do you all find these wide/long glass tanks??? I'm having a heck of a time finding just a long tank in a size that won't need to be upgraded in 6 months. If I find them online the S/H is outrageous.. anything local is reasonably priced for the size but doesn't seem big enough.

[BigCT]

I got my 40 gallon breeder at petco for $99.99

I know they make a 50 gallon breeder that is the same dimensions just a few inches taller.

The 40 gallon is about 36" left to right 16" front to back 14" top to bottom.

The 40 is the same price as a 55 gallon which is long but not to wide. I opted for the 40 so they would have more room to turn around.

Once you go bigger like 70 and 80 gallon tanks, the price goes up exponentially and I would opt for a stock tank.

here is a pic, doesn't show the complete width but may give you an idea.

[cam722]

Thanks BigCT. I need at the very LEAST a 75 gallon. Although I currently have 3 turtles, as soon as I get the new tank, I'll be shipping one of them off to my daughter along with the current set up. The 2 I'll be keeping are both 3+" so I was thinking of going with a 90 but I can't find any long or wide, just tall. I don't really want to use the "stock" tanks because you can't watch them and well that's part of why I have them.

[marisa]

Ah, but you can watch them from above.

Can't comment on breeder tanks, for standard glass tanks, a 90 gallon tank offers little advantage over a 55 gallon--they're both 4' long, and the 90 gallon one is only 5" wider.

What really would be good is a standard 125 gallon, which is 72" X 18" and provides 9 sq. feet of surface area. They're only slightly more expensive than a 90 or 100-gallon tank but have much more space. (And a low model 125-gallon is sometimes less expensive than a regular 100-gallon tank.)

[cam722]

Ok, so there's little to no advantage between a 90 and a 55.. but then that doesn't cover the 10gal per inch rule, so .. now I'm REALLY confused!!!! I just want to do this right and not have to upgrade for awhile.

LOL yes marisa you can watch them from above, but I rarely stand while crocheting, reading or watching tv. *Smile*

[marisa]

Since you've got more than one, if I could afford it, I'd look for a 125-gallon (go as big as possible).

The stock tank is next to one end of a couch, so I can sit and read, watch TV, etc. and watch my RES without having to stand.

[BigCT]

I agree to go as big as possible, but keep in mind the stand when you do.

I Have yet to have be able to reference the 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Can anyone want tell me where to find it?

Another web page (I do not have the reference and wish I could find it) gave a great formula for finding the right enclosure. I'm thinking Chelonia.org? The dimensions were more related to length width and depth, surface area, rather than volume, in relation to the turtle. Which ended up being less than 10 gallons per inch. If you can do 10 per inch that is great but I would hardly consider that a minimum.

But if you have 2- 6in turtles in a 90 gallon aquarium as longs as you are not having dominance issues I would say you are fine.

I disagree with the 90 being no different than the 55. The 55 is very narrow and a full size RES would have a tough time turning around. I found that the 5in wider in the 90 is a great width. Obviously the more square the better. But I like it. What I didn't like was the $350 price tag.

If I were to do it over a gain I would definitely go with a stock tank or some sort of large tub type enclosure. I have just as much fun watching them from above as I do through the glass. It seems to be a more natural way to view them.