Example of an aquarium for red ear, yellow ear, graptemys turtles
These images can give an idea about how to organize an aquarium that may give a little health to the turtles who have, unluckily, reached our houses.
An aquarium for an adult turtle must have the following features:
- a length of at least 1 meter
- a width of at least 40 centimeters
- a height of at least 40 cm, with 30 cms of water (water must be at least as tall as the turtle)
Furthermore, it must have:
- a heater for the Winter
- a neon light designed for reptiles
- a dry zone, where the turtle may rest
- a very hot light, directed to the dry zone
- a powerful, possibly external, filter
- stones for the bottom, possibly not small ones
- a timer, to regulate the switch on of the neon and spot lights for no more than 12 hours a day.
Aquarium
The aquarium pictured above is 1,20 mt long, 50 centimeters wide and 50 centimeters tall (with 35 centimeters of water)
You can see two turtles, which were not purchased (buying turtles is a moral crime), but handed over by a person who could not keep them anymore (as usual).
One of the turtles is on the semi-emerged zone, the other is close to the stones which support the emerged zone itself. Turtles must have room enough to swim.
Heater
It has a heater that is always on in the Fall, Winter and Spring, at 24 Celsius degrees (75 Fahrenheit). The heater is very unexpensive. Please note the big stones, that cannot be swallowed by the turtles.
Neon Light
The neon light must not be that of common aquariums. It must be expressly designed for the needs of reptiles. It must be changed at least every year.
Emerged Zone
The emerged zone must be easily reacheable by the turtles. The zone here photographed is too deep in the water (which had just been changed, in part).
Lamp
There must be a powerful, hot lamp that may drive the turtles to reach the emerged zone and pass there some hours every day.
Filter
Turtles need a powerful filter. The most powerful filters are the external ones. This one can filter about 1500 liters an hour.
Filter Entry
Filter Exit
Water goes out of the filter at the left of the aquarium
Timer
Thanks to the timer, all the lights work only from 8 in the morning to 8 at night. Heater and filter, on the contrary, are always on.
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