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this is my tank...


my brother said my tank looks a bit empty, and that my turtles don't walk on the bottem because the glass is slippery or something. he also told me to lower teh water level because it looks liek they cant rest on anything. my turtle usually sits and relaxes on the pillars, but just because my brother made those comments, it made me question myself. should i lower the water level so they can pop above the pillars or shoudl i put some rocks at the bottem so they can walk across? also, im worried they might be bored to death, so i wnat to put osmethign in there to interest them. any ideas? does my setup look fine to please a turtle? what should i add in there?

this is what i mean by when i said, "relaxes on the pillars"

The bottom of my tank is completely bare except for a fake plant that my turtle just likes to hang out in and a few river stones that he likes to push around when he gets bored or just feels like rearranging. I find that the bare bottom also helps keep my tank alot cleaner. If you think your turs are bored you could also try a few rosy red minnows in the tank. I bought 3 over a month ago and Duckie ate one right away. The other 2 are still there and he likes chasing them around the tank once in a while.

Also your water level looks fine to me. The fake plants and pillars should provide enough of a resting area for them.

Please correct me if i'm wrong but i don't see a basking area in you tank. Your turtles need an area where they can get completely out of the water and bask under a heat and UVB lamp.

Nooo, don't listen to your brother. I agree with everything Lauriebeth83 said. You can also try getting one of those air bubblers and put it on a timer so it comes on at different times throughout the day for like 30 minutes at a time. I've heard some turtles like to hang out and play in the bubbles (maybe like we like to run through a sprinkler?). The timer will make it more intriguing and something to break up his day a little. Also taking him out for walks (watch him closely) might be entertaining and good exercise too, as long as he doesn't get too stressed about it.

And you also definitely need a dry basking area for him to get out of the water and bask on. Plus the heat and UVB lamp like Lauriebeth mentioned.

Is there a basking platform or a turtle dock for him to crawl up on? I don't see one. He definitely needs one so he can crawl out and bask and dry off on a regular basis. Turtles that can't get completely dry every day or so will develop shell fungus and infections.

I think the setup looks great except like Lauriebeth83 and DavidY said it would help to have a few river rocks on the bottom for him to push around. The water level is good! Don't lower it!

What kind of light bulb(s) do you have? The bulbs should shine directly on the basking dock.

they're old pictures. i have a kordon turtle dock and uva/uvb lights.

Good for you - keep on doing what you're doing.

Deep water is better. Dont listen to your brother, he doesnt know what he is talking about. Tottally wrong information. Both RES and Red bellied short necked turtles (emydura subglobosa) are highly aquatic and only leave the water to bask or lay eggs. They both love deep water.