General Care Discussion :: hot hot hot!

[alvie and me]

now that summer has finally arrived i am faced with a new predicament. the summer heat has raised the temperature of alvie's water to the mid eighties. i'm not using a heater, and thats how hot the room temp makes the water. i dont think its a good idea for the water to be that high. if anyone has any ideas about how to keep it cooler let me know!

[TNTurtles]

ive heard of people putting ice in the water, it might work....

[missibsu]

You may have to resort to doing partial water changes daily, or more often. It's inconvenient at best, but from what I've heard the ice thing is only good for a couple of degrees difference.

[steve]

Missi, I think that was from my previous post. I was trying to cool down a 125 gallon tank, so it was more difficult then lets say a 20 gallon tank. I'm hoping for a mild summer since last year was very hot.

But I'm probably locked into the water changes again...

[missibsu]

I couldn't remember who was talking about it, I just remember reading it. I guess I didn't take size of tank into consideration. I was just sitting here thinking about my 75 gallon. I don't want to think about having to do the partial water changes either.

I guess I would add this...and maybe it seems obvious, but if it is a smaller tank and you decide to try the ice...use a refreezable bottle to make the job easier. I can just picture a huge chunk of ice floating in an aquarium...might make a pretty cold basking area until it melts. lol (doesn't my mind create such vivid pictures?)

[steve]

I had several 2 liter bottles frozen and floating in the tank. The turtles were VERY afraid of them. I'm still trying to think of an alternative to water changes... maybe we can hold a contest

[alvie and me]

well, i guess it'll be trial and error then, whats the prize for the contest winner! :p

[nick99_1]

If you try some pet store sites, they sell chillers. I found tis site

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/N ... 004+113768

Hope it helps.

[alvie and me]

those look awesome, but talk about expensive!!!!

[KellyP]

Those chillers are EXPENSIVE! It would be much cheaper to just put an air conditioner in the room, if the air temperature is cooler the tank will also stay cooler.

I've already had to take the heater out of my tank, the water was getting way to warm.

[jridge]

Can you buy a single room AC unit? They are as cheap as $80 bucks at a Walmart.......They run on 110vAC .......AND, you stay cooler !!!

[Andrew7769]

yep that would be good lol and u could tell ur parents its all for the turts honest!

[marisa]

I'd be careful about using AC in a room with turtles. Anywhere near a vent or cool breeze it creates can contribute to an RI. The dry air it creates can also be irritating to the eyes.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have never cooled down my RES's tank. If possible, I keep her tank in a lightly air-conditioned room, but nowhere near a vent, and away from the sunlight coming in from windows (sunlight thru a window will heat up the area around the tank).

In my 18 yrs of turtle-keeping, I have found that consistent warm temp is best. When you start doing hot/cold/hot/cold/hot/cold, you are setting yourself up for trouble & possible pneumonia or other sicknesses.

[goatfarmer123]

i make ice cubes out of dechlorinated water... i have a turtle ice tray just for that purpose. though missi is right, it only brings the temp down at the most about 5 degrees. its so funny though, leo really doesn't like the ice cubes, he'll pull his neck in and then scoot off under his rock when he sees me walk over with the ice tray... anyway, thats what i use. and i didn't know that being near a vent could contribute to a RI... good to know!!