Habitat - Indoor :: 40 gallon breeder and a hatchling RES

[Racer_X_123]

I got a 40 gallon breeder tank and 2 HOB filters. One is an aquaclear 70 and the other is like a rio or something.

My question is, because of the HOB filter design the water lever has to be fairly high. Will the baby RES be able to handle the deep water level right from the store? Or will I have to raise it up gradually?

Unfortunately getting another filter right now is not an option as I do not have the funding at the moment, but when I do I will be buying the Fluval 304.

Any insight?

[Daniel3507]

i think a baby can handle it. i have a 55 gal and have had it mostly filled up from day one.

[PcBuilder14]

The tank can be filled as deep as it can but about 2-5 inches from the top so there isn't a chance it can get out, but if you have a tank cover you can raise it all the way up.

[Racer_X_123]

yeah i was going to get a light defuser/egg crate stuff and make a cover. because i want an above tank basking area.

[crackerlady2007]

That should be just fine. Just make sure you have something in there for him to climb out on.

[Racer_X_123]

I was also going to get some 12" fake plants and make a perch out of lexan that is like 2" deep under water.

I guess i was concerned of the fact that they are so small and would be in alot of water

[Daniel3507]

the more water the better really

[PcBuilder14]

Don't worry they can handle it.

[Racer_X_123]

awsome thanks. Now all i need to do is get it set up so i can get the turtle

[Sarah89]

your turt can probably handle it. mine had difficulty, but he had NEVER been in anything more than a centimeter. just make sure you have different levels of resting spots, like plants (fake or real) and with a 40 gallon breeder you have enough room for driftwood and things like that since he is only a hatchling. I'd say with that size tank he is good for a while. As everyone said above swimming room is necessary to a turtles happiness, but the width you obtain with the breeder tank is ideal.

[Bumby's Mom]

It all depends on how old the turtle is. When they are first born they can not swim very good at all. Most of the babies actually rebury themselves in the dirt for a while until they are stonger (well, this is mainly for Painted's I do not know if it is true for RES). I didn't even introduce my babies to water until they were about 3 days old and I had them in about an inch of water with my hand in there the entire time. The babies struggled to get themselves to my hand and then they just sat there holding onto my hand. If the babies are older than about 1 month there shouldn't be any problem at all as long as there are plenty of things for them to rest on. Babies are very fragile.