Photo Gallery :: gustav's new setup

[yosmartpants]

[jenaero]

looking good!

[yosmartpants]

i bought the water hyacynth (sp?) the other day and it was a bit messy at first but not so much now. does anyone else have some in their tank?

i was unsure if the buddha was ok in there...but i soaked it in water overnight and it isn't pourus.

i'm using the uvb from my 20 gallon right now. i have the light fixture for this tank...but not the bulb.

[yosmartpants]

i would love feedback on things i should change and/or add. i'm very new to this world and even though i have read everything i can i'm still unsure if gustav is getting proper care. thanks!!!!!

[sonyj]

The only thing that I'd have against the buddah is that it takes up swimming space. The more swimming space the better.

The one basking area that the heat bulb is over looks like he can't fully get out of the water and completely dry off. Just be sure that while he basks he's completely able to dry off both top and bottom of his shell.

[yosmartpants]

he is able to come out of the water all the way...he was just about to jump in when i took the picture. i'm having a hard time getting the dock hotter than 82...it is a 60 wat bulb pointing right to the dock. how can i heat it up?

as far as the swimming room- should i take out the huge, cheesy overpriced fake driftwood to make room? gustav seems to really like it. he sleeps on it and piles rocks underneath. but it is really big.

thanks for the help!

[sonyj]

I was thinking that about the drift wood too, but it looks like he enjoys it. I'd take it out as he grows maybe that way you could utilize that area for swimming later.

Other than trying a greater wattage of bulb, you could position it closer to the basking area. Usually it shouldn't be more than 10 inches or so from the dock but can be closer if needed. Just be sure water can't splash up on it.

[cam722]

I agree with you that the water hyacinths make a mess in your tank, which is one of the reasons I don't put them in anymore, the other being they never ate it

I agree with taking the Buddah out to give more swimming space. Your guy isn't so tiny there

I'm kind of confused on the reason there's 2 basking areas. Is the longer flouresent light the UVB? If so, you really need to get the heat source over the same basking area otherwise the turtle isn't going to go under the UVB as it doesn't heat. Is there any way to put the zoo-med dock over the driftwood so that he can get the most benefit from the UVB?

Just curious, what size tank is that?? I can never tell by pictures

[yosmartpants]

there was two docks because i just got the turtle landing and wanted to see which he would prefer between the two. i have taken out the floating dock because he definitly likes the landing.

the heat lamp is above the landing and the tube is an uvb/uva. i have a light fixture that fits the whole tank but i wanted to use the smaller light until i got my moneys worth (6 months?).

the tank is 55 gallons...it was huge at first but i'm ready to upgrade!!!!!

[cam722]

You may want to see if you can't get the UVB over the basking area.. otherwise he is getting little to no benefit from it. Anyway to move that light over?

Do I see a visi-therm stealth heater in there too?? I LOVE those