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SJS111567 · 09-19-2004, 03:40 AM

I have had a lot of experience, gained through trial and error with raising 6 red eared sliders indoors.
The tank you are using is too small, as has been noted already. A 20 gallon long tank would provide a larger footprint and give the turtle more room. Other possabilities for a good turtle habitat, if the space is available: one of the prefab pond shells available at home depot, lowes, walmart, etc...I used one of these for about 2 years, it was great. I had a spare room, so I built a wood frame box, lined it with pond liner plastic sheeting, placed the preformed pond shell in it, and filled in with dirt. Add some plants around the pond, and a log for the turtles to climb out of the water, and they have a good place right beside the water to nest.
If that kind of space isn't available, or you just don't have the money or resources for a project like that, go to a local farm supply store and get a galvanized wash bin or small stock tank. they come either round or oval, and in a variety of sizes. they work great.
As far as your filter needs go, it really depends on a couple of factors. you can eliminate the need to clean constantly by lining the bottom of the tank with rocks. Don't use aquarium gravel, turtles like to eat it for some reason, and it messes with their digestive system, as you can imagine. I bought some bags of unwashed river rock at lowes, washed it myself, and placed a layer about 4 - 5 inches deep in my turtle tanks. the rocks are big enough that you don't have to worry about the turtles eating them.
Depending on the diet you have your turtles on, the cleaning needs can be great or small. I fed my turtles feeder fish, which was messy, but they loved it. Turtle food pellets didn't create the same mess in the tank, but the turtles weren't as thrilled about their dinner on those nights.
Eheim makes really good filters, and you can probably find one that will work perfect for your situation. for a 29 gallon turtle tank, i would recommend a filter system rated for a 50 gallon tank, at a minimum. The tank rating for a filter is probably pretty accurate when dealing with fish, but you definitely need to upsize when dealing with a turtle tank.

09-19-2004, 03:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
SJS111567 Upright	I have had a lot of experience, gained through trial and error with raising 6 red eared sliders indoors. The tank you are using is too small, as has been noted already. A 20 gallon long tank would provide a larger footprint and give the turtle more room. Other possabilities for a good turtle habitat, if the space is available: one of the prefab pond shells available at home depot, lowes, walmart, etc...I used one of these for about 2 years, it was great. I had a spare room, so I built a wood frame box, lined it with pond liner plastic sheeting, placed the preformed pond shell in it, and filled in with dirt. Add some plants around the pond, and a log for the turtles to climb out of the water, and they have a good place right beside the water to nest. If that kind of space isn't available, or you just don't have the money or resources for a project like that, go to a local farm supply store and get a galvanized wash bin or small stock tank. they come either round or oval, and in a variety of sizes. they work great. As far as your filter needs go, it really depends on a couple of factors. you can eliminate the need to clean constantly by lining the bottom of the tank with rocks. Don't use aquarium gravel, turtles like to eat it for some reason, and it messes with their digestive system, as you can imagine. I bought some bags of unwashed river rock at lowes, washed it myself, and placed a layer about 4 - 5 inches deep in my turtle tanks. the rocks are big enough that you don't have to worry about the turtles eating them. Depending on the diet you have your turtles on, the cleaning needs can be great or small. I fed my turtles feeder fish, which was messy, but they loved it. Turtle food pellets didn't create the same mess in the tank, but the turtles weren't as thrilled about their dinner on those nights. Eheim makes really good filters, and you can probably find one that will work perfect for your situation. for a 29 gallon turtle tank, i would recommend a filter system rated for a 50 gallon tank, at a minimum. The tank rating for a filter is probably pretty accurate when dealing with fish, but you definitely need to upsize when dealing with a turtle tank.