Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Steve on January 10, 2013, 03:22:09 PM
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My Niece been wanting a turtle for some time now so I put this tank together for her hatchling painted turtle which will be here tomorrow morning. Figure this tankw ill be good for the first year till it gets bigger and we'll upgrade her on tank size then when needed. Did the land area and background the same way I did the backgrounds in my aquariums by using stryo/drylock.
So now she's looking forward to "Timmy's" arrival tomorrow morning.
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/1218/turtle1v.jpg)
(http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5483/turtle2e.jpg)
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nice set up she will enjoy it, glad to see you got
the right lighting
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Yeah I'm not really a turtle guy myself so don't know a lot about them but I did some research before setting it up and found they need the heat light as well as a UVB light so picked up each for it.
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Well done...and not just the tank, but more importantly getting the younger generations interested in the hobby.
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Well done...and not just the tank, but more importantly getting the younger generations interested in the hobby.
well said Tony we need more of the younger generation involved.
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Where's the water? Lol. Looks very nice. It should enjoy it's home very much.
If you want to make maintenance easier, feeding the turtle in a separate container would help BIG TIME. They poop soon after they eat so it would be a lot easier to dump a little water out. That filter won't really help much BTW...although while it's little it might help a little.
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Cool tank!
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What size tank is that, and how long did it take you to put it together? Very cool setup!
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Thanks Super Turtleman, I was reading that very same thing the other day where people suggest feeding them in a separate area so I think I may suggest that to her. Originally I was going to put one of my spare filters on it (AC110) but I was thinking that may be a bit too much for this tank with a turtle in it so I just got the standard reptile filter for her. Think I should see if the AC110 would be okay or just leave the reptile one in for now?
Marty - it is just a 29g tank. Only took me a few days. 2 days to make the background/land area then 1 day to do the other misc stuff. "Timmy" is just a hatchling right now and 1"-1.5" so I figure this will work for now and then next year I'll see about stepping her up to maybe a 40B or 55g ;D
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Think I should see if the AC110 would be okay or just leave the reptile one in for now?
I think I'd just keep the reptile one for now. I think the AC110 would overpower the turtle in that small a tank. If you get a 55G then maybe the 110 would be a good option.
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I agree on the filter. Looks like a more than adequate setup to get started with. Very nicely done.
Also, I'm curious how would you get an AC110 to work in that tank without the water level being too high for the turtle to get out? Most Aquaclears lose suction when the water level drops close to the end of the intake tube.
FWIW, if you want to save money on the filter cartridges, save the framework and buy a $3 bag of quilt batting or similar material from a craft store and then cut pieces as needed to wrap around the plastic framework. I did that in my Whisper 30i and it worked great, plus it's super cheap. This was when I was keeping frogs in a 29.
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The AC110 I have has about a 12" intake tube on it so it would reach down pretty deep into the tank, but I'll just use the reptile filter like everyone said and hang onto the 110 for the upgrade for her. That's a good idea about wrapping the framework with batting rather than buying new filters. And you know Uncle Steve will be the one doing all the tank maintenance I would bet anyway....that kid has me wrapped around her finger ;D lol
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nice looks great! ;D
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Awesome work! Your backgrounds look amazing
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Nicest aquatic turtle tank I've seen in a long time. Well done.
I agree w/feeding the little critter in a separate container. This also gives you the opportunity to inspect the little fella.
Mike Z.
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Well here's Timmmmmmy :D....... She said he was all over the tank soon as she put him in it. He didn't eat the first 2 days but now today she said he started eating well.
(http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/332/timmyf.jpg)
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Is that a Southern Painted (sorry if wrong, off the top of my head....)?
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It is either a southern painted or a western painted, I can't remember which one. She originally ordered one and they didn't have it so she took the other and now I can't remember which is was. I think it is Western though.
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Looks southern to me. They normally get the line down the back like that.
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Looks southern to me.
I dunno...I haven't noticed any accent yet ;D lol
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Southern has the line down the back, Westerns have a greenish shell (carapace) with lots of red underneath (plastron).
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I'm really pleased with how much she is enjoying him as well as the way she is doing things the right way. I told her what you guys said about feeding him in a separate container, and she went out and bought him this little "critter carrier" so now she puts him in there to feed him.
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That'll work for now. When it gets bigger she can just get a bigger one. If she feeds him and leaves him in there for an hour that should be good.