General Care Discussion :: Water temp question...

[MoreBloodWine]

1) Really nice colors...
2) When I get Nikos permanent tank I want to go with sand to, I was thinkin plain one colored sand but I like the play sand you got. What are the grains like though ?

I ask because I read something here some time back that say the sand has to be fine because of sharp edges etc. My biggest worry with sand has always been compaction hence the finer sands being suggested.

[slider_keeper]

The grains are tiny pebbles mixed with fine dust and everything in between. I have been running sand for two years now, with no issues what so ever. It makes the tank look so much more natural which is my goal with his big tank when I build it

[steve]

Ok, so then the 79°F that I've been keeping his tank at (except for my experiment) is about the right spot then. Niko basks well so I know the waters not overly warm. In either event, I might just keep it here since I can't fathom a need to even want to lower it to 77°F.

...I might fish around his basking spot tomorrow to get a few readings but I do remember I have it set where it's at now due to some recomendations from Steve and ohers some time back.

I've been looking more into the temp guidelines and right now I think it's a couple of degrees warmer than it should be. While the recommend ranges are still good, I think a shift for it to be a little cooler is better. This includes water and basking temperatures - also the latter has it's own subset of ranges because your turtle can move around the basking area and thermoregulate.

[MoreBloodWine]

Ok so what, 75 - 77, maybe more around 75 for his age ?

As for basking, the 93 is what I pulled from one spot, his bulb burned out so I went to a 60w from a 40w. Temps are still around the same with a few degree diff.

[steve]

I'd say 76-77F for water temps. Adult RES can be a bit lower. I'm still going over info for basking temps, but I'd keep it at the low 90's. Again, if the basking area is wide, then the RES can choose it's spot.

[MoreBloodWine]

I'd say 76-77F for water temps. Adult RES can be a bit lower. I'm still going over info for basking temps, but I'd keep it at the low 90's. Again, if the basking area is wide, then the RES can choose it's spot.

Ok, well I'll take the middle ground and just do 76... Nikos is what I guess you would call a juvenile. If Nikos were a full ledged adult at like 8" then what would you say the water should be at ?

As for basking, I don't have anything to big because I don't have Nikos permanent tank, what I hae is one of those Turtle Toppers on I think a 20 / 30g tank.

[steve]

I would say low 70's for an adult.

[slider_keeper]

Rio's are from the Rio Grande River Valley that runs right down the Mexico/U.S. border in Southern Texas. I have monitored the temp os that region for about a year now, and found that the temp is around a 100 and rarely does it drop below 70. I keep my water temp at 77 for this reason. I'd say drop it about two degrees and if he is active, eating good and basking regularly then that should be fine. Is he showing any signs of excessive shedding?

[MoreBloodWine]

Rio's are from the Rio Grande River Valley that runs right down the Mexico/U.S. border in Southern Texas. I have monitored the temp os that region for about a year now, and found that the temp is around a 100 and rarely does it drop below 70. I keep my water temp at 77 for this reason. I'd say drop it about two degrees and if he is active, eating good and basking regularly then that should be fine. Is he showing any signs of excessive shedding?

None what so ever...

[slider_keeper]

Yeah I think our turtles can take a bit more heat than say the more common ones found in the middle of the country.