Here's the previous turtle house:
And here's the shiny new one:
Bit of a difference there, I think. Well after much wiping (the new tank is used, and I wanted to clean it thoroughly before putting the turtle in, so there was much bleaching followed by much dechlorinating) and much hauling, because at five gallons a trip it takes a bit to fill that big sucker even part way up, we get this:
I think she's going to like it once she gets the whole "I can swim" thing figured out. We plan on getting some bigger rocks to build up a good land area on the right side, at which point the floating basking platform will go away since it's only mostly useful at best. She's too heavy for it to be really useful, it doesn't have quite enough float to it and all the things I can think of to make it float better involve things that she might eat or that can harm her.
No substrate yet, she'll get along ok without it for a bit, though I would like to get her some, traction when she's trying to walk across the bottom is nonexistant, of course, and it does help with the biological filtration to help keep things clean and happy.
We're getting there, though. Slowly, but surely. I am far more pleased with this set up than the old one, though the turtle isn't entirely sure about that yet, I think she's gonna wind up much happier and healthier in her new home.
4 comments:
hit up your local landscaping place for "river rock" of the size of your choice (smaller works better for biological filtration help). You'll need the rinse the heck out of it before you put it in the tank, but its usually cheaper and easier than the store bought stuff.
Nicely done, and it's ONE step at a time, concur with Ruth too!
Be careful with your substrate. I picked up some very attractive rocks in the Smokies years ago and put them in a freshwater tank. Fish started dying. Turned out, this stuff was messing with the pH. I had to add some saltwater gravel to even things out.
Nice new turtle digs! If a turtle can look pleased, I think that's it.
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