General Care Discussion :: rocks and tank set up

[edgerton]

is it a bad idea to get rocks from the creek near my house to put in the turtle tank?

[Boogerbutt02]

I think that would be alright if you cleaned them really well...

But if the creek has had pesticides in it in the last 6 months or so then no...

Also, make sure the rocks are bigger then your turtles head so that he/she can not eat them...

[tinkerbell_pg]

yea my dad got rocks from a creek close to our house annd he got them 3 years a go for his fish and then he got better rocks for his fish and gave them to me and he got the rocks from the creek by our house 3 to4 years a go and we washed them really good befor we put the rocks in the tank with them and my baby RES love them so yea u can use them but


just do what Boogerbutt02 said about the pesticides just in case i dont know i did not go get the rocks with my dad

[missibsu]

Certain rocks can be baked in the oven to kill harmful bacteria etc. From what I understand you need to make sure that the rocks are completely dry. Sandstone can explode if baked when wet.

[tinkerbell_pg]

yea my rocks that i got in my tank were out side for one year then i brot them in and put them in hot watter for 2 to3 days

[713]

how long and at what temp should they be baked?

[tinkerbell_pg]

im not shure i never baked them because mine were out in our shed for one year

[grey goose]

Why risk it? Rocks are cheap....even at a pet or dollar store , how much could they cost?

[Boston_Zhao]

I think that would be alright if you cleaned them really well...

But if the creek has had pesticides in it in the last 6 months or so then no...

Also, make sure the rocks are bigger then your turtles head so that he/she can not eat them...

Do they swallow gravel? I have gravels at the bottom of the tank, should I remove?

[missibsu]

Yes, they swallow gravel. Yes, you should remove it.

[SpotsMama]

I boiled some rocks rather than baked them. I think it's less likely to explode that way.

[Boogerbutt02]

GRAVEL is BAD!!!! lol.... Turtles will eat ANYTHING you put in the tank... mine male turtle tries to eat his filter too...

[tinkerbell_pg]

what that is funny that he trys to eat ur fliter

[Boston_Zhao]

witout gravel, the tank looks really boring.......

[CountryGirl68]

witout gravel, the tank looks really boring.......

Not really. I have a 75g tank. I taped a black aquarium backing to the outside bottom of the tank. I added about 8 river rocks, 2 fake plants, one tall fake rock and 2 small plastic turtles (given to me by my mom). Then I put a rock aquarium backing on the back of the tank. It looks really nice without any gravel. In fact, it actually looks better than my fish tank and cleaner.