Habitat - Indoor :: Do you have the correct tank size?

[steve]

1" = 10 gallon isn't the only guideline used. Another popular one is that your turt's shell is Z, so tank length is 5xZ, width is 2xZ and water level is 1.5xZ - this may be considered an absolute minimum.

As for multiple turts, 1" = 10 gallons becomes a luxury. The larger tank will help keep aggression and harassment down. Don't forget the increase of waste that needs to be addressed. Anyway, I think 1" = 10 is good for 1 or 2 RES. I personally like the guideline because I think it makes people think about housing multiple turtles.

[way2fst4u]

I agree it makes you think, but with 3 hatchlings (now only 1.5" and in a 60 gallon tank), I sincerely doubt they will need a 180 gallon tank someday. They will eventually get a pond, but not that big.

[cam722]

go find 3 10" plates/rocks or something and put them in your tank and see how much space they take up.. you may reconsider

[way2fst4u]

Good point Carol...realistically though, that does take quite a while if you feed them the proper amount of food right?

I have this place by me called Prehistoric Pets...they have about 200 (NO LIE!) Painteds & RES in a "river" going through the store...can't be more than 1500 gallons...and they're all pretty much full size...so my thinking was a bit off.

[cam722]

ahhh but you didn't say they'd need it anytime soon, you said .. I sincerely doubt they will need a 180 gallon tank someday. They will eventually get a pond, but not that big." *smile*

I know I use to think that too, I just couldn't imagine my little turtles EVER needing something that big until I saw a full grown RES and then I realized how small my 75 gallon tank really is lol

[way2fst4u]

http://www.prehistoricpets.com/gallery/ ... oss&id=395

Check this "pond" out...there's about 5 red-tailed catfish in there that are over 50 lbs. and the 200 RES & Painted turtles...

[lotsofpets]

Donatello is 2 inches and lives in a 31 gallon container and Monet is about 5.5 inches and lives in a 66 gallon container. Neither container is all the way full, so I chose "just right!"

[Muirner]

i had 2 1.5" turtles in a 55 gal tank, with 30+ gal of water. This would have been "just right" but i still had more room for water... So i chose bigger.

[scripta_elegans]

is a 2000 gallon pond enough for 200 sliders? That's more like 10 gallons per turtle vs. per inch? Dos it matter less the bigger the pond is?

[steve]

That would be very roughly 12 feet X 12 feet and 2 feet deep. 20 sliders, maybe...

[scripta_elegans]

That's kind of what I thought... Just curious

[KalinaBallerina]

My 4" turtle is in a 90 gallon tank - she loves it!

[N4784N R4613]

Based on that rule my tank is five gallons to small. I have by trying to save up sine I got my turtles for a 340 gal., tank that would fit perfect in my basement.

[Turtlegrandma]

I had a 20 gal tank this morning for two 2.5" turts and just came back from PetSMart and 400.00 later they are now in a 55 gal. with a bigger pump and stronger heater. I know that is just the min. but they are quite happy with the extra room and I think this should be ok for the next year...??? I hope so.I thought they were ok in the 20!!! Until I started reading this forum....then I got guilted into buying the bigger set up. These are not even my turtles...I'm just the Grandma!

[CV Cream]

400.00$ on a 55 gallon!!!! thats crazy!!!! What are you gunna do w/ the 20 gallon?