Aquatic turtle enclosure brainstorming

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C

CTU2fan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 12, 2007
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Port Orange, FL
I currently have a couple of baby basking-type turtles (YBS & Mississippi map). I want to get them a larger tank, probably a 125 or maybe a 180. Now I'm not new to aquatics at all, but this will be my biggest aquatic enclosure and I'm wondering what people have done in larger tanks re: basking sites & filtration. I will probably filter it with a couple of large canisters, I had a 65G turtle tank with 3 turts and a fluval 404, and it worked out very nicely...so with the 125 maybe 2 405's, or a single fx5?

But re: the basking spot, I really don't want to put a 100lb. rockpile in there. What I'm playing with is maybe some kind of platform that I could hang from the tank rim, that way they could bask and still have the swimming space underneath. Has anyone done anything like this, and how did it work out?

And I think I'm going to try keeping some hardy fish in there. I know turts & fish don't mix all that well, but I'm thinking with some structure for the fish to hide out in it might work. I thought either some natives like sunnies, bullheads, or even a bass, or maybe cons, and maybe a big pleco. That is really iffy though...but I've been looking at the turtle tank at my LFS, and it's full of fish. I think they just toss in the odd fish...I saw cons, a JD, tiger barbs, a pictus cat, of course the feeder rosies & goldfish. These were baby turts though, but the fish look nice in there. It's a very nice tank, best pet store turtle setup I've seen by far.
 
With fish you probably want a fast breeder so look at livebearers. There quite a few of them out there.

Silicone a rock to the side or learn how to make a fake rock with tile grout, expoy, sand and other materials. Either that or you can get a turtle dock and a couple of driftwood.
 
petsmart sells turtle docks that are platforms that hang on the rim of the tank
 
I'm glad you want to put them in such a large tank. They will love that. Good luck with what ever route you may choose.

Z
 
Build an above-tank basking area. That way you can fill the tank entirely with water and not limit swimming space =]
Here's a link to one that a friend built:
Above Tank Basking Platform

Filtration should be rated for a tank twice the size, because turtles produce a larger waste load than fish. Make sure you don't use gravel or sand in the tank, they will eat it and become impacted.

Fish wise, go with barbs and Danios. They don't last too long, but they are your best bet, I've had Danios last 3 months =] Don't go with plecos, they are too slow, and spiny, and some people even have had them eat the turtle's eyelids.

Paul
 
I've seen the tanks with the walled basking sites, filled to the top, but that one is a bit different. The ones I've seen just had half of the tank (where the platform was) walled, this one with the full enclosure with plexi front looks very neat. I might go that route actually, then I can go with a hob filter & a canister. And the other fish idea I had was a bunch of tiger barbs, they're pretty quick.

I've seen those fake rocks, and recipes for making them, but I didn't know they were safe to use in water. Maybe something to think about.

Re: turtle docks, I have one of those now and it's OK. Basically what I was thinking there was something modeled after that design, but bigger as my turts will get big, especially if one or both are females.

I'm gonna go bare bottom. I have these decorative stones, they're maybe 2" long round smooth ones, they sell them as "river rocks". If I can get more I might use those, they look nice & they're big enough that the turts won't eat them.

So the pleco is out then, no eyelid-eating in MY tank haha. I will probably grow out another 1 or 2 turtles once I've got the tank...probably another basking type and a stinkpot or muddie of some kind.

Edit: Read the whole thread, that platform looks like the way to go. Looks great and max swimming space for the turtles.
 
CTU2fan;896629; said:
I've seen the tanks with the walled basking sites, filled to the top, but that one is a bit different. The ones I've seen just had half of the tank (where the platform was) walled, this one with the full enclosure with plexi front looks very neat. I might go that route actually, then I can go with a hob filter & a canister. And the other fish idea I had was a bunch of tiger barbs, they're pretty quick.
Click to expand...

If the barbs don't work, there is always the livebearers. If you have enough of them, you won't notice the turtles reducing their population as the babies will replace the adults. :lol3:
OR maybe you do want to watch them eat them.:popcorn:

CTU2fan;896629; said:
I've seen those fake rocks, and recipes for making them, but I didn't know they were safe to use in water. Maybe something to think about.
Click to expand...

There's a couple of DIY projects at MFK that have fake rock walls, you can easily turn that into a rock platform for them by using the same idea. It would be like your own customizable turtle dock -- just silicone it to the side of the glass, when it is time to upgrade or change use a utility knife and peel that thing off.. I still say you need a driftwood though.

CTU2fan;896629; said:
I'm gonna go bare bottom. I have these decorative stones, they're maybe 2" long round smooth ones, they sell them as "river rocks". If I can get more I might use those, they look nice & they're big enough that the turts won't eat them.
Click to expand...

You can always use slate tile if you don't like the look of bare bottom glass. It will still be barebottom though.
 
What is the growthrate of the convicts anyway? My main concern is how the adults will be an easy target.
 
here is how i did mine for my res on my 55galon..
1 - aquarium sealent - 7.00
2 - 2.5 gallon glass tank lids - 5.00ea
3 - small picture frames - 1.00ea
1 - green plastic mesh from arts crafts store - 0.35

results:

 
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