Turtle tanks/pumps/enviroments

[Sean of the Thread]

I've got a pet three striped mud turtle that I've had now for about 10 years. I was wondering if anyone has experience is setting up a large turtle tank and would like to share some advice.

I've got a 75 gallon tank that I'd like to use. I'd like some of it to be submerged and the rest dry. Need advice on a filter/pump as I've seen a bunch of options and price ranges. She also will need her own clean drinking water unless the filter provides for that already.. I dunno.

She is full grown and they're are rather small but they mostly reside on land. I would however like to introduce a couple other turtles to the tank of either the same species or other..

So where is out turtle expert?


*here is a quick run down on them.. not much to it really. http://www.calusanature.com/Animal%20Facts/StripedMudTurtle.htm
I feed her crickets and rolly poly bugs that I forage daily. Haven't had any other luck with her eating anything else.

[Katt]

Well if you don’t even want to use a filter…

Put a flat pan in there with small sides full of water (not over the turtles head) the turtle will enjoy swimming in it to cool off and will drink it. Also easy to clean up just take the pan out wash it, and give it fresh water. Then on the other side of the tank just make it dry land. You can buy a heating rock thing that just a small desk lap would warm up so your turtle can be cozy.

Hopefully this helps a little. =)

[Stealth]

General rule of thumb for aquatic turtles is 1" of turtle to 10 gallons of water. Not sure how that will apply to yours since she is semi-aquatic. But I think it helps to over compensate in this area rather than under.

I have two turtles in my tank at home, a red-ear and a loggerhead musk turtle. the red-ear is about 4 inches and the loggerhead is about 3-4. I have them in a 75 gallon tank.

I use two filters, a fluval 405 and a fluval 4+. I change the water about once every 2 weeks despite the filters. The other one I have heard good stuff about is the Rena XP Filstar filters. Whatever you go with, a big canister is the way to go. I would say use a fluval 405 or an XP3 or XP4. Those last two are rated for something like 175 and 250 gallons (for fish), but since turtles are messier, you want to double or even triple your capacity.

Keep in mind the canister needs to be below water level, so the aquarium needs to be up on a stand and the canister needs to be on the floor.

As far as the fluval is concerned I can say this about it. It is a royal bitch to get it started pumping. It says not to fill it up with water first, but rather to fill it up with the little pump handle...bullshit. Fill it up most of the way. Set it up, then pump it and turn it on and keep pumping...and pumping and pumping. Filling the tank almost to the top will help get it started and then you can siphon some water out. Luckily you only need to do this once. The fluval has a shut-off valve that you turn off when you shut it down. This traps the water in the lines and keeps you from having to restart the siphon action with the hand pump.


I am eventually going to have to move my two to our pond outside, once the RES gets too big for the tank.

[Stealth]

Oh if you do change water a lot, get a python hose/siphon. Works awesome.

[Sean of the Thread]

yeah red ears get pretty damned big. Mine is full grown at 4 inches. She was slightly smaller than a quarter when I found her.

[Celephais]

What happened to the "This thread is useless" emoticon... anyway... I'll provide my own pics (not my turtle or anything... now I want a turtle)

http://www.schildpad.nl/images/r_extreem_005.jpg