New tank picked up, 180 gallons for turtle(s)

[Kaerey]

The brown blob on the right side is a magnetic landing pad for a second basking area.

 

[Kaerey]

I put the frame together for the top of the tank. Here's some Pictures. We are going to put a wire mesh attached to the little rails on the inside which also what rests on the tank edge.

EDIT:
Oh crap, I just realized, I didn't leave a way to get the filter hose into the tank without going over the extra 7" on the back. This tank has no holes drilled. I guess I'll just have to cut out some space on the back edge for the equipment. I have no way to drill into that glass.

 

[davdev]

Looks like you got some good woodworking skills, why don't you try to incorporate an above tank basking area into your hood, and fill the whole tank with water. Maybe even build in an acrylic viewing area so you can see them while basking. You can them dill a hole in the back and run the filter plumbing it through it, and only have an inch or two of open air for the tubing to run through and not anywhere near the required 7"

 

[Kaerey]

Looks like you got some good woodworking skills, why don't you try to incorporate an above tank basking area into your hood, and fill the whole tank with water. Maybe even build in an acrylic viewing area so you can see them while basking. You can them dill a hole in the back and run the filter plumbing it through it, and only have an inch or two of open air for the tubing to run through and not anywhere near the required 7"

That's a good idea. I'll have to see what the wife thinks. The turtles are ultimately for her and our 2 year-old. I'll have to think of a way to make sure the kid can see them while basking, he's 35" tall, the Stand is 36" tank 22" and header another 7" maybe I could build him a little step stool to match the tank.

 

[Creek_stomper]

That's a good idea. I'll have to see what the wife thinks. The turtles are ultimately for her and our 2 year-old. I'll have to think of a way to make sure the kid can see them while basking, he's 35" tall, the Stand is 36" tank 22" and header another 7" maybe I could build him a little step stool to match the tank.

I'd say you'll have to no matter what, unless the turtle basks up against the glass all the time. If you do a search on Turtleforum.com for "Above tank basking area" or "ATBA" you'll come up with a good amount of threads with ideas.

Josh

 

[Kaerey]

I got some time over the last few days to actually put some time into the tank. It's been sitting in the garage since about the last post with little work done.

The last things to do are:
Clean the glass (planning on using Oxy-Clean)
Move the bookcases that are currently where the tank is going
Move the stand and tank to the new home
Mount the Doors and Fake door in the middle front
get a few more rocks for the basking area
Mount the lighting (UVA/UVB Aquarium style light and basking lamp)
fill with water
and finally, get Turtles

 

[uting]

If you happen to choose something other than sliders, such as a softshell species, only keep one. Softshells are very aggressive towards each other and other tank mates, but at the same time very delicate and prone to injury. They are not communal species at all.


Paul

I disagree the guys at TSA keep their Nillosonia and Chitras communally and lots of the Chinese Softies are farmbred and like all of them are kept together although in really bad conditions

 

[uting]

I disagree. Three of these animals in 100g of water would create sub-standard living conditions at best, even if you only count the stress of overcrowding.

its 180g and chinese softies usually grow 10 inches and males 8". Add the 10 gallon per inch rule and overlapping rule they would be somehow fine.

 

[paul112]

@uting
Turtles are bound to bite each other at some point in an enclosed environment such as a tank. With Chinese softshells (the only species I have experience with, so I cant speak for the others you have mentioned), their bite is extremely powerful, yet their bodies very delicate. I have spoken to a few people whose hatchlings have killed each other.

I don't recommend keeping any turtle species together, because they are not particularly social animals. I'm not sure what 'overlap' rule you're referring to, but 3 Pelodiscus in a 180G tank would be crowded in my opinion. I'd prefer to give each turtle more than 10G per inch in a communal setup to ensure they have the space to avoid each other if necessary.

Paul

 

[Creek_stomper]

I think my real issue is that as softshells they are inherently wider than other species of turtles, so they demand way depth (front to back) to the tank than any other species, as well as floor space. This is why, in my opinion, softshells usually shouldn't apply to the standard sort of rules.

Josh H