Heh, RES are sort of the goldfish of turtles. They're common, tough, frequently abused, and have become invasive pests. It's easy to forget that they're also excellent pets.
Red Eared Slider question
- Thread starter DAVIDFBT
- Start date
Can't argue with you there. I was going to take in a pair of RES last fall but my friend found them another home which is fine with me. My personal favorite Slider is Trachemys scripta scripta. I'd like to get a pair of them someday. I saw loads of these guys when I was in North Carolina last year. Unfortunately I didn't catch any.
Yellowbellies are nice. They have a kind of 'inflated' look compared to redears. I like their little blond 'mustaches'.
I think I might go for building a wooden tank for the guy. I think its a great project for me and my dad to work on so we can put it at his house.
How wide, deep, and long should the tank be? Also how thick should the wood be, so he can't bust open the tank. We're trying to go for an under 300 dollar budget here. Is it easy waterproofing and building a wooden tank? Whats the minimum for 2 of them?
How wide, deep, and long should the tank be? Also how thick should the wood be, so he can't bust open the tank. We're trying to go for an under 300 dollar budget here. Is it easy waterproofing and building a wooden tank? Whats the minimum for 2 of them?
2' X 2' X 6' is a nice size, and you can build it with a single sheet of plywood. 3/4" pine plywood should be adequate; reinforce the corners with 2X4s. Probably the best thing to seal it with is the epoxy used to line concrete pools; it's kind of pricey though. I'm not sure what other epoxies are suitable.
I think this would be adequate for two adults.
I think this would be adequate for two adults.
I used epoxy resin from www.masepoxies.com and really liked it. Get the slow curing stuff with the longest pot life. It was the cheapest I could find.
I'll have to try that, Sploke. Thanks! Does it resist scratching? That can become a problem with turtles.
Also, I realize now that you can only build a 2' X 2' X 6' box from a single sheet if you make the front panel with glass and dimensional lumber; if all panels are plywood you would need part of a second sheet. Sorry!
Also, I realize now that you can only build a 2' X 2' X 6' box from a single sheet if you make the front panel with glass and dimensional lumber; if all panels are plywood you would need part of a second sheet. Sorry!
I forgetted, if you guys find it to be too expensive, a $150 stock tank is like $150 bucks, lol. We're buying one soon for our little guys.
Cool. I know that epoxy from Sploke is scratch proof because he has a turtle tank for a snapping turtle. How much would a plywood turtle tank cost if it were 3.5' x 3.5' x 2'? and also how many adults can that hold in it?
EDIT: We don't plan on having one side glass or anything, all sides are going to be plywood. I'll have to read Sploke's turtle tank project to see how to build it.
EDIT: We don't plan on having one side glass or anything, all sides are going to be plywood. I'll have to read Sploke's turtle tank project to see how to build it.
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The plywood itself would probably run you about $45 for one and a half sheets. Maybe another $5 for 2X4s to reinforce the corners, and $7 for screws and glue. Gravel, rocks, and driftwood could run from free to quite a bit, depending where you get 'em; let's say $20.
That's $77 so far. You can probably add the basking light too before you break $100.
I don't know how much for epoxy; maybe Sploke can tell you that. And then you have a wide range of filtration options. Still, I think you can have the whole thing built and furnished for under $250. Not too shabby!
That size container would be fine for a single adult. I think it would be a little cramped for two. If you could upgrade to 4' X 4' X 2', or 3.5' X 5' X 2', that would be a big improvement. A huge increase in water volume, and essentially the same cost in materials.
That's $77 so far. You can probably add the basking light too before you break $100.
I don't know how much for epoxy; maybe Sploke can tell you that. And then you have a wide range of filtration options. Still, I think you can have the whole thing built and furnished for under $250. Not too shabby!
That size container would be fine for a single adult. I think it would be a little cramped for two. If you could upgrade to 4' X 4' X 2', or 3.5' X 5' X 2', that would be a big improvement. A huge increase in water volume, and essentially the same cost in materials.
