Hope this shows up picture wise.....The challange was to build an environment for both the Mata and the larger fish. I used a few hundred pounds of native stone to build a "staircase" for the turtle as well as a place to sit and chill. The rocks also provide a myriad of caves for my more reclusive fish. Mata Mata do not bask or leave the water so they are one of the few that work for this.....They also cannot nip at fish or bite them in half like many as they eat by suction and will not pursue larger fish at all. One challange was the air above the tank. Mata Mata are sensitive to cold breathing air and in the winter my house in in the high 60s. My solution is to mount the glass tops in the Canopy 4" above the water. This leaves plenty of room for the turtle to stick his growing neck out of the water. The 80 degree water heats the space between the top and the water.
120 gallon 48" tank. Over built stand on 4x4 treated to look like textured stone. I run a wonderfully seasoned FX5 and and a new Sunsun 705 filter with 9V UV. Finnex 500 watt Titanium heater, Green Element 128 LED Grow capable light system.
Stock: one 6" Mata Mata turtle, two Lenticulata Pikes 6-8", two Kelberi Bass 6", three spotted and two barred SD, one 4" Marble Angel, one 5" Golden Angel, one 9" Sydontis Eupterus, one 5" Vampire Pleco
120 gallon 48" tank. Over built stand on 4x4 treated to look like textured stone. I run a wonderfully seasoned FX5 and and a new Sunsun 705 filter with 9V UV. Finnex 500 watt Titanium heater, Green Element 128 LED Grow capable light system.
Stock: one 6" Mata Mata turtle, two Lenticulata Pikes 6-8", two Kelberi Bass 6", three spotted and two barred SD, one 4" Marble Angel, one 5" Golden Angel, one 9" Sydontis Eupterus, one 5" Vampire Pleco
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