General Care Discussion :: Am I Doing Everything OK? please rate/Help!!

[tidaboy9]

Please, Here are some Picutres of my setup i would love it if you guys could rate and help me with any other things i need to get and please tell me if what i did was all rightt!! Ex.Enough water,Wrong filter,Basking wrong aND any other things i need to know with my setup!! He also has a problem with sticking his head out of the water alot~! he eats fine~!

OLD PLACE!!! (No lighting no filter)



NEW PLACE!! (lighting UVB/70watt/100watt heater/ FLUVAL Internal Filter/Tempterture at 74)!











i have the VITASHELL THING for his little white spot on his shell!

[rfjedi]

Well rule of thumb is 1.5x his carapace for water to swim in. Looks like its a bit low...

[tidaboy9]

A bit loww (How much "bit low"??) The PETLAND lady said i have to have enough water for him to at lest to stick his head out?? Please explain me why? I filled the 10gallon all the way but... he would always grap the top and stick his head out and never swim??

[papoopeepoo]

I'd fill the 10 gallon, after taking out the gravel, to 2.5-3 inches below the top.

Make sure there is a place for him to rest while underwater near the surface. Young turtles are good swimmers, but they do get tired more quickly.

If you don't want the water that high, make sure the water is 1.5-2 times as high as his shell is long. This will help him turn over if he happens to land on his back.

Also, bring your water temperature up to about 77-79 degrees. Make sure you have a thermometer with a probe to test the temp.

[tidaboy9]

Quick Question why should i take out the gravel there is NO way that he can eat it they are too big! And Please I had before had it filled but He sticks his head out alot! please read my abobe post verry much apreated! fill it 2.5 is that are u sure? Then he might put one leg on the rock and lift his head up again?

[jozzep]

Also, bring your water temperature up to about 77-79 degrees. Make sure you have a thermometer with a probe to test the temp.

Chris that heater is one of those tetras that you cannot regulate.
It should keep a temp of about 74 degrees unless you keep your house very cold.

[papoopeepoo]

Also, bring your water temperature up to about 77-79 degrees. Make sure you have a thermometer with a probe to test the temp.

Chris that heater is one of those tetras that you cannot regulate.
It should keep a temp of about 74 degrees unless you keep your house very cold.

I see, I see. It threw me off because it was out of its protective cover.

[tidaboy9]

IS THIS FINE??




Just bought the filter water might be a little dirty ementy and put purified water in there tomorrow!!

[jozzep]

Quick Question why should i take out the gravel there is NO way that he can eat it they are too big! And Please I had before had it filled but He sticks his head out alot! please read my abobe post verry much apreated! fill it 2.5 is that are u sure? Then he might put one leg on the rock and lift his head up again?

He might not be able to eat it now, but in a few months, he will.Trust me,we all started out just like you.Take all the advice you can......We know what we're talking about.

[tidaboy9]

Quick Question why should i take out the gravel there is NO way that he can eat it they are too big! And Please I had before had it filled but He sticks his head out alot! please read my abobe post verry much apreated! fill it 2.5 is that are u sure? Then he might put one leg on the rock and lift his head up again?

He might not be able to eat it now, but in a few months, he will.Trust me,we all started out just like you.Take all the advice you can......We know what we're talking about.

Thank you verry much!!! So...
1. Take the gravel out!

2. Rize the water! ( look at above picture)

3.Build up rocks more for proper basking??

4.?? Any possible thing?


He also eats fine he actually eat right in front of my in my pictures Right now hes abount 4inches!

[papoopeepoo]

Quick Question why should i take out the gravel there is NO way that he can eat it they are too big! And Please I had before had it filled but He sticks his head out alot! please read my abobe post verry much apreated! fill it 2.5 is that are u sure? Then he might put one leg on the rock and lift his head up again?

For beginner turtle owners, I like to point of that it is much easier to keep clean a tank that has either a bare bottom or a sand substrate. Also, large river rocks are used by quite a few people on this board, and those are perfectly acceptable.

At this time that gravel is no danger to your turtle, but since you're still on a small scale (and using an internal filter), you may find it easier to maintain a bare bottom tank.

Second, the more water you have in the tank, the easier it is for the filter to clean a certain amount of waste out of the water. Water movement and circulation are beneficial to water health.

These are aquatic turtles, and are born with a basic knowledge of swimming. If you are nervous your turtle may be shocked by a lot of water at once, then add water slowly. You can fill the water as high as you possible without allowing an escape.

[papoopeepoo]

Are you sure he's 4inches? He looks more like 4cm.

There are floating docks available that are made especially for turtles so that you don't need to stack rocks in your glass aquarium, which can have a dreadful outcome.

Also, we can recommend numerous reputable website if you're in the US.

[tidaboy9]

Are you sure he's 4inches? He looks more like 4cm.

There are floating docks available that are made especially for turtles so that you don't need to stack rocks in your glass aquarium, which can have a dreadful outcome.

Also, we can recommend numerous reputable website if you're in the US.

Yup! In the U.S Thank you soo much for the help! and yes i ment 4cm thank you! i got this at chain town_chicgo

I just wana no if the water level right now is enough for him or IS IT A MUST that i have increse the water level and buy a $20 zoo med dock! Is the filter OK? and how about my lighting?

[tidaboy9]

Are you sure he's 4inches? He looks more like 4cm.

There are floating docks available that are made especially for turtles so that you don't need to stack rocks in your glass aquarium, which can have a dreadful outcome.

Also, we can recommend numerous reputable website if you're in the US.

Yup! In the U.S Thank you soo much for the help! and yes i ment 4cm thank you! i got this at chain town_chicgo

I just wana no if the water level right now is enough for him or IS IT A MUST that i have increse the water level and buy a $20 zoo med dock! Is the filter OK? and how about my lighting?

also what did u mean about a Bare bottom tank!? i google it still dont understand??

[n00bEmpty]

Bare bottom, as in there's no rocks or sand or anything, just pure glass. Raise the water level and increase water temp. Also, does your bulb emit UVB? Just because it's high in watts doesn't mean it emits UVB. Might get heat and such.