210Gal Turtle/Tortoise Tank Ideas

[regalt]

Looking to maybe set up my 210 into a Turtle/Tortoise tank but not sure what to go with any ideas on what would be good for it. Id really like to have a tortoise or two in there but then I also wouldn’t mind having some nice turtles swimming around in there as well.

Id like to see some pics also of your guys set ups if you could to give me an idea of what to do.

Tank is 7x2x2.

 

[Noto]

You're definitely going to need to go with one or the other; there isn't room for both. In fact, if you want tortoises, your tank would really only be suitable as winter quarters for the smaller species. You'll be better off sticking to aquatic/semiaquatic turtles. I think that tank would be a nice map turtle tank.

 

[coreyweinkoetz]

Russians are great first time tort. they stay small and 14 sq ft you could have a pair . I would get just one and get a male they stay even smaller and that would be a great size for one 4-6 in tort. you may have to put up a small visual barrier so they can't see out some of them think they can walk through glass but 3-4 in of window tint or aqua backer works just fine.
or
John Richards at loggerhead acres has an exchange program where you could buy a baby alligator snapper and keep it for 5-10 years and then send it back to get a Brand new hatchling and your sub adult would get added to his ponds for future breeders. it's a great way to help a very troubled species.

 

[regalt]

You're definitely going to need to go with one or the other; there isn't room for both. In fact, if you want tortoises, your tank would really only be suitable as winter quarters for the smaller species. You'll be better off sticking to aquatic/semiaquatic turtles. I think that tank would be a nice map turtle tank.

wasn’t planning on having both in there, but I am leaning more towards aquatic/semiaquatic turtles.

Russians are great first time tort. they stay small and 14 sq ft you could have a pair . I would get just one and get a male they stay even smaller and that would be a great size for one 4-6 in tort. you may have to put up a small visual barrier so they can't see out some of them think they can walk through glass but 3-4 in of window tint or aqua backer works just fine.
or
John Richards at loggerhead acres has an exchange program where you could buy a baby alligator snapper and keep it for 5-10 years and then send it back to get a Brand new hatchling and your sub adult would get added to his ponds for future breeders. it's a great way to help a very troubled species.

Iv been looking into Russians allot especially since they stay smaller. Ill have to look into the gator turtles that be pretty neat to raise up.

anybody with pics of there set ups?

 

[regalt]

what about box turtles?

 

[coreyweinkoetz]

go to the loggerhead acres web site and check that out . also he was on reptile radio about a month ago so you can listen to that episode as well .
box s would work for you I would suggest a pair cause alot of there wild populations aren't doing so hot.

 

[CTU2fan]

I like the aquatic idea, aquariums really aren't great tortoise homes anyway. Torts do better in pen type enclosures, it seems like the glass walls make them uncomfortable.

You've got a lot of options with the aquatic species. I would stick with smaller species just because I think they're more interesting when they have more room...think maps, painteds, reeves turtle, various domestic mud/musk turtle species.

 

[regalt]

I like the aquatic idea, aquariums really aren't great tortoise homes anyway. Torts do better in pen type enclosures, it seems like the glass walls make them uncomfortable.

You've got a lot of options with the aquatic species. I would stick with smaller species just because I think they're more interesting when they have more room...think maps, painteds, reeves turtle, various domestic mud/musk turtle species.

been looking at some musk turtles just don’t have experience with them when the are tiny as the ones I see for sale, are the pretty hard to take care of or are the pretty easy when there baby’s?

 

[CTU2fan]

I have never kept a hatchling. I'd think they'd be easier than say a hatchling cooter/slider/painted turtle. I know Vicious_Fish keeps stinkpots, you could ask him. The biggest thing I'd want to keep in mind is that they're not really great swimmers, so I'd keep babies in pretty shallow growout tanks/tubs.

 

[Westie]

I got both torts and turts. I have a pair of russians in the yard, hoping they mate and, I have a pair of eastern spiny softshelled turtles in a 90g, hoping they mate. They are both equally great. They both come anytime you approach. The softshells spook easy and love to bury themselves in sand wereas the russians pop out at the first sign of warmth from the sun and go to sleep like clockwork at dusk. The russians are fed weeds from the garden and the turtles eat ANY kind of fish food. I have yet to see them turn anything down. Can they live together in a 240? Maybe. I'd be concerned that the torts would fumble in the water and drown as I've noticed them have trouble navigating their water dish. A 2" deep storage container lid.