casey

My grandchild wanted a turtle. Everything is set up fine (I think.) I've read lots about keeping the aquarium clean, but - what does " vacuum your gravel "mean? Won't the wet vac suck up most of the gravel and water? - If I scrape algae off the sides will the filter take care of it? - Do I do these things daily and change the water once a week? When did life get so complicated?

Tommy Gun

Welcome to the forum!

While I am not 100% familiar with the maintenance of turtle tanks, there are a lot of good sites that can give you a good idea on what is needed for them exactly.

The term 'vaccum your gravel' really comes from the use of a siphon by aquarists who use it to not only remove water from the tank during water changes, but also use it to suck up any food or debris that will eventually decay and create an unhealthy environment in their tank. Usually, with an all fish aquarium, using a vaccum cleaner is not the best idea because it can remove water too fast and it will not just clean the gravel, but remove it from the tank. The idea of using the siphon to suck up food or detrius is that it will take those lighter items out of the tank, but leave the heavier gravel. It is also able to pick up items that should be removed on top of a sand substrate and leave most of the sand itself, if a bit of skill is applied.

Usually, a filter will pick up anthing that stays suspended in the water long enough for it to get sucked into the intake, however, some items such as large bits of algea will simply sink to the bottom of the tank and then the filter does not have a chance to remove it. In my freshwater tanks, I almost always scrape algea off of the glass, but then use a siphon to remove it or a net to catch it and take it to the sink.

Life, as far as it pertains to an aquarium, has gotten a bit more complicated, but all for a very good reason. By taking the 'lesson's learned' by aquarist of the past and from scientific advances, it is now more possible to provide a more natural and healthier environment for our aquatic friends so that they can live longer, grow bigger, and be more colorful. However, as a person who kept a turtle a very long time ago (ok, in my mind a very long time ago..about 20 years ago) the principles are all still the same: Keep the tank large enough, water deep enough, clean enough, warm enough, and use special lighting so that the turtles can warm themselves and get the correct rays of light that the turtle needs to grow its shell correctly and strongly as it grows.

jd@ga

Hey Casey! Lets talk turtles! I use to breed/sell them a few years back. I still have two year lings and I will always keep turtles. Here are a few things that will keep in mind. Turtles are not fish they need basking areas, a hidding place and clean water, a variety of food. Keeping gravel is definately optional, it looks great but traps food/waste. It`s much easier/healthier without gravel. Water changes are made easier and they do need to be done at LEAST once a week(100%) each time.

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Tommy Gun

JD,

Out of curiosity and to maybe help Casey out a bit more, with a turtle tank, are water parameters very important? I mean can the turtle suffer from ammonia poisoning or would it just stay out of the water on its own?

I also see a lot of people keeping goldfish in the water with a turtle. Is this more for food or more for looks?

One more quick question, I know that there is a special name for a tank that has some water and some land in it. I was thinking Palladium, but that is not it apparently. Do you know what the term for them are? (Its eating me up because I can't remember!)

jd@ga

Sorry ran out of room... You need a filter or two and I would advise using carbon. Live foods (feeder fish, bugs) do mess the water more but are necessary sometimes and pellets should be their main food. Heaters are optional if the tank is indoors and you keep your house around 70degrees. A heat lamp (75watts) is a must and needs to be on about 8-10 hours a day. Get one that are made for reptiles. And the most important thing is keep the area around the tank very clean.
Fruits/vegs should be offered but not left uneaten in the tank. Do not overfeed turtles , feed them as much as they can eat in 3 min. about 2 or 3 times a day. Water quality is a must you should use a chlorine remover and keep the water temp during water changes the same temp. As far as land/water ratio for aquatic turtles it should be 1/4 land to 3/4 water. A 20gal long is a great starter tank.
A turtle molts quite a few times a year and is normal. A turtle should be happy and active to be healthy. I hope this helps some and if you have anymore questions please ask.

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jd@ga

Hey T! Yes turtles can suffer from foul water qualities. That`s why 100% water changes are done. Turtles are VERY MESSY! I gave up on tring to keep a cycled tank for turtles a long time ago. That`s why I don`t use gravel in the tank anylonger. I never feed gold fish in a turtle tank they are almost just as messy. Feeder guppys are the best and help keep the food/waste problem in check.

The only other words I know for palaydiam(sp) is terrerium or vivarium maybe? I can`t recall anything else.

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Tommy Gun

Thanks JD!

Vivarium is the word I was looking for! I often get flustered when I can't think of something that is 'right on the tip of my brain!"

What about plants? I mean, turtles would eat plants correct? Should you feed them lettuce or would it depend on the particular type of turtle that is being kept?

jd@ga

T as far as lettuce I was told long ago from a pet nutritionist that it holds the least amount of vitamines than all the veges. I use mustard or collard greens and that holds true for turtles,tortises, lizards,and fish.
As far as plants I know very little about and I would be afraid that they would get sometype of poison from eating them. I have seen turtles try to eat fake plants but they usually spit them out after they have them in their mouths.

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