Be careful with aquatic reptiles and heaters!!!

[anarchir]

My snapping turtle has never messed with his plastic covered heater. It is level with the small stone substrate and directly under the flow from the filter. The only thing I worried about was him messing with the cable that runs out of the tank from it but he climbed on it for a bit before growing bored.

I had a friend who had a pleco that tried sucking on a cheap heater once and it burned its mouth and died. What a bummer.

 

[paul112]

Is there no way you can add some sort of earthing to the electrics over there? A fluorescent spotlight above my RES tank once fell into the water, I thought my turtle was a goner for definate, but the earth wire used in most electrics here in the UK stopped the water frying. Glad Claudia's alright, would be such a shame for anything to happen after all the work you've put in.

Keep up the fine work, and useful posts
Best,
Paul

 

[plecostic]

I've had bad luck with Aquen heaters they always seem to break. I also tend to doubt the auto shut-off when run dry. All the ones I had did not auto shut-off. I'm not paying $40 for a heater just because it's called a "pro" version, especially when it probably cost them only $2 to make in China.

 

[WckedMidas]

I've had bad luck with Aquen heaters they always seem to break. I also tend to doubt the auto shut-off when run dry. All the ones I had did not auto shut-off. I'm not paying $40 for a heater just because it's called a "pro" version, especially when it probably cost them only $2 to make in China.

got mine for 20 bucks at petsmart

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Understood. I knew the risk and I didnt do my job. It wasnt a direct attack though. Appeares the glass was inferrior as there is a break farther up the tube from trying the clean it to figure out what happend. Appears filter did it. She smashed it into the heater

I think it's kind of the owners fault in general if an animal breaks a heater. I mean it's not something they normally would encounter in the wild and animals can be curious when something is in their terriorty. So with that being said it's up to the owner to protect the heater when you are dealing with larger animals that can damage things. I've had pretty good luck keeping heaters from being broken from turtles by hiding them. I take 2 paver bricks and place them on the bottom of the tank side by side about an inch apart. Then you just place the heater in between the bricks and place a flat rock on top. Out of sight, out of mind. In your case Mark, you might want to wrap the cord with something that can insulate it and protect it from a caiman bite.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

Gotta figure out something. Thanks for the kinds worrds

Is there no way you can add some sort of earthing to the electrics over there? A fluorescent spotlight above my RES tank once fell into the water, I thought my turtle was a goner for definate, but the earth wire used in most electrics here in the UK stopped the water frying. Glad Claudia's alright, would be such a shame for anything to happen after all the work you've put in.

Keep up the fine work, and useful posts
Best,
Paul