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I have a 3yr old female res. I'm about to have a acrylic tank built but I was wondering if anyone knew if thats a bad Idea due to the fact that they scratch easily. She is very active and is always scrapping the side of her enclosure, from swimming too fast.

The size (500+ gallons) sounds wonderful. You already know a major drawback (they scratch easily), so whether or not you go ahead with having it built is up to you. (If it's built, please show pics. )

it may scratch a bit, but i is about impossible to find a glass tank that size! Where are you having it built/ Is it an online source, or local?

Yep, like listed above, the only down side with acrylic tanks and turtles are the scratches which will make the tank look dull. But that's all dependent on whether you plan on putting it as part of your decor (for example, I have mine in the living room) or if it's just to make your turtle comfortable.

it will be in our living room she has been near a T.V. her whole life and is use to the attention. I don't care for really nice, just want her to have some room

I agree, at that size (500 gallons) it will not be easy to get the glass. Plus, it will be very, very heavy. What do you plan for a basking area?

Just checked glasscages.com.... their 540g glass tank is 96 x 37½ x 36 @ $2300, their max acrylic tank is 240g @ $800.

steve wrote:I agree, at that size (500 gallons) it will not be easy to get the glass. Plus, it will be very, very heavy. What do you plan for a basking area?

At that size the turtle could have a basking cottage.

That would be great, wouldn't it? I have ideas for a huge tank myself, though it would be more square shaped with a small beach area...

yeah Steve, The idea is to have the tank made, then have a shelf put in just over half way up. The shelf will extend all the way back and out two feet. The Three foot height will give plenty of room for water depth and not allowing her to climb out, even tho she doesn't really try to. It will make it easier for her to thermoregulate. She can pick a different temp range this way.

steve wrote:it would be more square shaped with a small beach area...

Makes me want to be a turtle.

thats the idea, to give her as natural a beach as I can in my living room. I don't like the idea of her just getting on the ramp and then having to stay in one spot to keep dry. I'm thinking this way, she will beable to move closer to or farther from her heat source, and pick what temp she needs to keep comfly.

This will greatly improve thermoregulation! They only other drawback I found is the price 5,000 dollars roughly is what I'm paying. But, she is worth it. It'll be her final home for the rest of her life

With the dimensions you want, you can opt to use pond liner and use wood or steel for the frame. You won't be able to see through it and it won't look as nice, but it is much more affordable (trust me, I have given this a lot of thought before).

yeah, but I like to watch her doing her every day activities and she is use to being able to see everyone, plus the T.V. Belive it or not she watches the T.V. And I don't want to take that away from her. I'm probably going to end up building something my self with a wood frame.