Habitat - Indoor :: basking light help (updated with pictures :) )

[kulki]

Hi guys,

I've been able to take nice long sneak peeks at my 4.5 in long, 2 RES basking and I'm noticing that one of my turtle's eyes get a little irritated.

His eyes get watery and he blinks them a lot and he even rubbed them a couple of times and they seem a tiny bit swollen than usual!

I'm using a Zoo Med ReptiBasking Spot Lamp that's 150 Watt that is about 13in" away and I'm wondering if that is the problem...
I'm not sure what the temperature is there cus I accidentally ripped the strip thermometer, I'm getting one later today. but i felt the basking rock and it feels nice and warm, i read its supposed to be about 88-90 and i don't think its that warm...

the little swell around his eyes goes away when he's been swimming for a little bit... so I'm hoping its not too serious.
once i get my camera charger, i will post pictures of their habitat so it can be evaluated

thanks again!

[octpusgirl8]

Do you have a UVB light as well? The spot basking lamp only provides heat and UVA. Try and get a hold of a thermometer to check the tamps of the basking area, and give us some pictures if you can.

[Nettle]

It could possibly be a vitamin eye deficiency. Try carrots, cod liver oil dabbed on the eyes with a q-tip, or repti eye-drops:
http://petco.com/product/12512/Zoo-Med- ... Drops.aspx

[RunninWideOpen]

if you're using one of the UVB 10.0 bulbs, those have been heard to cause some eye irritation when too close.

pics will help.

[kulki]

Hi guys!
thank you for your replies!
(our internet was down so i couldn't reply sooner...)

I haven't given my turtles official names so their nicknames are Shy Boy and Little Girl. I'm worried about Shy Boy's eyes, his upper eye lids are a bit swollen and sometimes a little reddish... the pictures came out a little bluer so i think its hard to tell...
(ooh i'll look into those eye drops! and they have been eating carrots...)

I finally got more thermometers; the water temperature is about 75 degrees and their basking temperature goes from 85-90.

They do have a R-Zilla Tropical Series UVB 20 watt as well as the basking UVA lamp...
and I use Zoo Med Reptisafe, Instant Terrarium Water Conditioner. This water change I put in those ReptoGuard Turtle Health Conditioner turtle shaped block..

Here is their 40 gallon tank; their rock dock was set up by my husband, I had to do a water change by myself and I had a hard time setting up the rocks like he had done it so i made it lower and therefore had to lower the water level but its usually way higher. There were more tunnel-like hiding places under the dock for them too, but i just couldn't get it ':oops:' I'm wondering if the lights are too far away from them now.

Since its a pain to set up the rocks the same each time we change the water, this weekend we want to make a dock out of some sort of clay, (that will be fired in a kiln) something that will be like this rock set up, we want to use materials that will be safe for the turtles, will be safe underwater and easy to pull out in one piece.

Here are some pictures of them:







they are not minding me taking their picture while basking but i have to be real sneaky about it, otherwise they still jump in the water when they see me








Little Girl in the back and Shy Boy is in the front



here is Shy's eyes underwater (his eyes aren't so bright..)




here are Little Girl's (she has bright sparkling eyes!)


here are Shy's eyes while basking:


and


compared to Little Girl's they seem swollen, here is her close up:


Thank you for looking! I appreciate any help/suggestions/tips on anything you see that I might've overlooked.

[RunninWideOpen]

that's a very pretty setup. i do like the rocks basking platform for how it looks. there are a couple problems with it to keep in mind while making your new one. make sure the turtles can get COMPLETELY out of the water and dry off. i could be wrong but it looks like that is a little hard for them because the water goes up pretty high on that rock.

also, make sure the rocks, or the new one, could never fall. if one of the turts happen to get trapped when those fell, they would drown.

i have one suggestion before you go to all the effort to make a new in tank basking platform.....go ABOVE tank basking platform. many people on here are doing it. it gives your turtles much more water and room to swim in the tank.

Here's what i did with my 55 gallon:


And here's my 135 gallon:


just to give you some ideas.

your temps are good!

the filter looks a little small for that tank. it looks like Shy boy and little girl are about 4", so the tank is a little overloaded as it is (general rule is 10 gallons per inch of turtle). part of the reason for this is water quality. general rule for filters with turtles is to get a filter rated for twice the size of the tank, because turtles are much much messier than fish. i'm not sure what the rating is on that filter. you want one rated at least for an 80 gallon tank, but I would even go for one rated for a 150 gallon or so, because your tank is a little small for your turts.

by the pictures, shy boy's eyes don't look swollen to me. there's one pic in the water where it looks like the could be swollen, but the others don't. i notice some of mine have bulgier eyes than others. his look ok. i'm sure others will be along to comment as well.

welcome to the wonderful world of turtle keeping!

[VanishingReality]

Those blocks are pointless, they will just eat them.

If you cannot stack the rocks, you can always have your husband glue them together with aquarium sealant.

[kulki]

Hi RunninWideOpen,

Thank you for your reply!

I like that idea a lot! putting their basking platform above the tank! thanks for posting pictures with your suggestions!

rocks crushing the turtsies was my main concern, that's why when it was my turn to set the rocks up, i couldn't do it! i made it way low... its pretty sturdy but i know exactly what you mean.

I was looking at Shy Boy's eyes and one of them is more irritated than the other, sometimes they look fine and then they look swollen again...
I'm going to try those turtle eye drops...

looking at my pictures, i realize how small the tank actually is! we were eventually going to get a 75 gallon but... looks like we should invest in one like yours... or a 150 g one! thats BIG!!
their basking rock is small...eh? this morning they were on top of each other! aw...

the green shelf that the tank is on was made by my husband esp. for a 40-75 g tank, I'm wondering if a 150 one would fit on top, what are your tank dimensions on your 135?

I'm actually quite excited to set up their basking area like yours! i like the plexiglass idea! i can use bamboo plants to decorate it (its the one plant my turtles aren't munching on for some reason). Hopefully we can figure out something this weekend!

i think you are right about the filter, i have to get a bigger one, i have to look around and see which ones you guys are using on this forum. I'm always scooping up leftover lettuce bits and poop!
there's still a lot to work to be done here... sigh... that's why I'm happy this forum exists, live and learn!

I have another question:
I just bought a :25 ft Python Clean and fill No Spill: water changer and my husband is insisting that i return it, but since I'm the one who has been changing the water, i think i should keep it, i haven't opened it and I'm wondering if it's really worth the 60$ i paid for it

or is there something better i can use? my husband is pretty crafty and thinks he can get a pump and just a regular hose...but i kinda like this Python thing...

what to do?
maybe i should return it and invest on a bigger filter...


thank you so much again for your suggestions and tips!

[kulki]

Those blocks are pointless, they will just eat them.

If you cannot stack the rocks, you can always have your husband glue them together with aquarium sealant.

oh really? i guess a bigger filter will eliminate the use of those blocks, you are right, today i saw them take some bite out of it and i pulled it out!

there's aquarium sealant? cool! we were wondering if there was some sort of adhesive that would be safe for them! if i glued those rocks together it would be sooo heavy! hahahahah! im not that strong, although, i did carry the tank (with no water) to the tub....it was pretty heavy, i'm only 5"1
still i like this idea!

i need something to hold the plants down to the rocks, so i think i will make rock pots using that sealant to hold the rocks together so i can put the little plants in them!
oooh im learning!

thank you so much for your suggestion!

[Nettle]

Most of the people on the forum use a python because it's super simple; you only need the one thing. I can't use one of those because my tank is about 100 feet from the nearest temp controlled faucet with a hose attachment, so I use a combination of a gravel siphon (basically just a tube) and a curly hose (curly as in a telephone wire that spirals). A pump and a hose would probably be faster, but if you really don't care how long it takes, then a python is just fine.

[grandmadoes]

I have Shilo's 20 long on the main bathroom vanity-mainly because it's the only thing I have right now to support it's weight, and I use siphon to drain the tank and then I use the showerhead on a 6ft hose to refill the tank. It works great! I to have a filter that might be too small for the tank, I have to change the water every 2 weeks....I don't mind it and Shilo seems to like the change. I am so grateful to all of you and you comments on this site- Thanks

[kulki]

Hi Nettle!

i just spoke to my husband and we concluded that the most important thing right now is getting a bigger filter. so...im returning the Python....
i guess we'll be getting the pump/hose combo sometime next month.

we can't immediately upgrade tanks at the moment so we'll try to set up an above basking area like RunninWideOpen suggested, that way the kids won't be so crammed

i guess i still have to make a million one bucket trips to the bathroom when i clean their tank a couple of more times.... sigh....
its not that bad


Thank you for your suggestions! you guys are being so helpful!!

[kulki]

Hi grandmadoes!

i've been changing the water often too! that's great that Shiloh doesn't mind! when my turtsies are waiting for me to clean their tank they get so stressed i think!

for now i have to get crafty and find something to help me get the water out faster, cus scooping the water out takes FOREVER.... i guess all i need is a long hose i can attach to the sink or tub to fill up the tank since im not that far away from the bathroom...


this site is great right?! i need to go to home depot and look around! (with my husband that is!)

thanks again guys!

[imderanged]

$60 sounds like alot for the python. The walmart by me sells the 25 ft python for $33.

[RunninWideOpen]

Most of the people on the forum use a python because it's super simple; you only need the one thing. I can't use one of those because my tank is about 100 feet from the nearest temp controlled faucet with a hose attachment, so I use a combination of a gravel siphon (basically just a tube) and a curly hose (curly as in a telephone wire that spirals). A pump and a hose would probably be faster, but if you really don't care how long it takes, then a python is just fine.

hey nettle, it sounds as though you're filling the tank with water from your water heater? your hot water carries a lot more mineral deposits, etc because it builds up in the tank. same reasons people don't cook with hot water. cold water is much more pure.


Kulki- python's are good. sounds like you paid a lot for that one though. if you return it, you can siphon the water out with just a long tube or hose (skinnier is easier to get goin).

a lot of people around here are using the fluval filters. generally people around here all suggest canister filters. i do have a big, under tank filtering system on my 135 with a couple canisters. on my 55 gallon i just use 2 cascading filters that are rated at 60 gallons.

the larger tanks get heavy FAST. my 135 ways a good 200lbs empty, easy. eventually, when my girls get bigger, I'm just going to get another one and have to seperate them. i don't want to have to get 6 guys everytime i need to move my tank. i wouldn't put a 135 gallon tank on a stand made for a 50 even if it fit the dimensions. just too heavy. water ways about 8lbs a gallon.

a 150 gallon would do you really well for a long time. most turtles grow really slow after they get to 4-6ish inches. some get to be 12" long, but not all. if you ever do have to upgrade to a new tank, it wouldn't be for a number of years.

i got my 135 gal tank off of Craigslist.com for $200. it was an amazing deal!!! it's been a great tank, with stand, big filtering system, etc.... just to say, if money is an issue, great deals on used tanks can be found.

good luck with the above tank basking platform. i think your turts will love it.