Looks like I am getting rid of the sand. When and what can I use for substrate? They ate all the plants, and I need to get more. The basking rock is temporary and very well supported. Yes The light is UVA/UVB. Thanksa for the advice.
My turtle tank project, thanks Joel.
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To be honest, it's easier to just go with a bare bottom. That way you can keep the tank cleaner and siphon out the waste when you see it. But you could also use large stream pebbles or ceramic tiles to line the bottom. If you choose to use rocks, make sure they are bigger then the turtle's head so it can't accidentally swallow them.
Yep if you can get the large flattish river stones that are I guess about the size of a lemon or a clementine orange they're great. Just enough to cover the bottom, they look great and are a lot easier to keep clean than smaller rock/aquarium gravel.
Vicious_Fish;1593806; said:
I was thinking the same thing.
All of that gravel in the one tank or the sand in the other is just going to collect waste like its nobody's business....and it will start to smell really bad over time and if you don't keep up with it, could hurt your turtles.
Bare bottom would be the best way to go, you could even place some large size pebbles or river rocks for looks but it would still be "bare bottom" technically.
i've had my female RES for about 10 years now, from half dollar size. i've experimented with a lot of different DIY dry areas. she got so big the turtle docks started to sink and even when i added extra floating styrofoam to it, she would manage a way to pull the suction cups apart from the glass. here's what's working for right now. a narrow box made of eggcrate with large stones. i also used eggcrate to make ramps.
the tank is barebottom and not very much debris gets stuck in the structure. it is easily cleaned away. (i.e. the structure is moved to a different spot)
also, with yours being such a small turtle, i'd worry about her getting lodged between the rocks. use caution.
sorry to derail, i just wanted to share this idea. after's years of frustration i came up with this and its been the best so far. you can probably doll it up more and modify it.
the tank is barebottom and not very much debris gets stuck in the structure. it is easily cleaned away. (i.e. the structure is moved to a different spot)
also, with yours being such a small turtle, i'd worry about her getting lodged between the rocks. use caution.
sorry to derail, i just wanted to share this idea. after's years of frustration i came up with this and its been the best so far. you can probably doll it up more and modify it.
I never put anything on the bottom of the tank. Easier to clean. Be careful of fake plants, they like to eat them and if a fake plastic leaf comes off.....I just use rocks for decorations. Or caves they can't get stuck in. Those in the tank filters are great too.
