Stinkpots are very good climbers. I would keep the water level at least 6" below the top trim on the tank.
Turtle for a 29 gal?
- Thread starter Gerdass
- Start date
I would say 5-6 inches taller than the turtle, provided it is a smooth sided platform. Otherwise just make sure there is a lip around the top.
Kristina
EDIT: Vicious beat me, lol.
Kristina
EDIT: Vicious beat me, lol.
Yep, another question here.
I've been doing my research like a good little boy, and I find that some places say that a stink pot should have a "soft" substrate, others say none is required?
I know that the main concern is the turtle ingesting or choking on whatever it might be.
I don't want a bare bottom tank, so I would like to have something. I thought about just putting slate down there, but I would prefer the look of a more typical substrate as I will be using slate more for my basking platform and other things in the tank, and I'm afraid it will just be too much of one medium to look at.
I'm planning on picking up the needed supplies and doing the build this weekend. Then maybe sometime next week, we'll actually go pick up the turtle. This is kind of a reward deal with my son, so I hope that he stays being good, because I think I'm more excited about this than he is......
I've been doing my research like a good little boy, and I find that some places say that a stink pot should have a "soft" substrate, others say none is required?
I know that the main concern is the turtle ingesting or choking on whatever it might be.
I don't want a bare bottom tank, so I would like to have something. I thought about just putting slate down there, but I would prefer the look of a more typical substrate as I will be using slate more for my basking platform and other things in the tank, and I'm afraid it will just be too much of one medium to look at.
I'm planning on picking up the needed supplies and doing the build this weekend. Then maybe sometime next week, we'll actually go pick up the turtle. This is kind of a reward deal with my son, so I hope that he stays being good, because I think I'm more excited about this than he is......
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Next problem. I've called all the local pet shops in a 40 mile radius, and not one has a Stinkpot, or any musk turtle for that matter. They all have RES's, some had painted turtles, one had something called an African Toad Head (which I've never heard of), and several had box turtles.
I'm going to have to expand the radius here or start looking for an alternative.
I'm going to have to expand the radius here or start looking for an alternative.
Try the classifieds at www.kingsnake.com and www.faunaclassifieds.com Vicious may know an online source too, I don't know.
Kristina
Kristina
Well, I continued to look around at the local LFS's and Pet shops and couldn't find anything other than RES's and Painted turtles.
I found a couple of places online that you could get them, and basically have them shipped. Not sure how I feel about that. I've had fish shipped before with no problem, but an aquatic turtle worries me. The whole, live in water breathing air thing would make it difficult to care for in a box.
Also, any place I've found only has what they classify as "baby" stinkpots. Now, I've sent emails and am awaiting responses on exactly how old a "baby" is. But I wanted a younger juvenile turtle, not a baby since I know they are harder to care for until they reach maturity.
So how old should they need to be for a NewB like me?
I found a couple of places online that you could get them, and basically have them shipped. Not sure how I feel about that. I've had fish shipped before with no problem, but an aquatic turtle worries me. The whole, live in water breathing air thing would make it difficult to care for in a box.
Also, any place I've found only has what they classify as "baby" stinkpots. Now, I've sent emails and am awaiting responses on exactly how old a "baby" is. But I wanted a younger juvenile turtle, not a baby since I know they are harder to care for until they reach maturity.
So how old should they need to be for a NewB like me?
I'm not sure where you're from but take a look at this link and see if there are any reptile shows coming to your area. I can almost guarantee you could fine one at a show. I bought my adult female stinkpot from a show for $20 bucks
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188115
And don't be afraid to order one online. They're very easy to ship and don't need to be kept in water during the shipping process. Just don't purchase a baby. A juvenile that is at least a year old to an adult is what you want to be looking for. The Turtle Source always has them for sale but some species can be a little pricey on that site.
http://theturtlesource.com/turtle_inventory.asp?cat=333&id=100200326
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188115
And don't be afraid to order one online. They're very easy to ship and don't need to be kept in water during the shipping process. Just don't purchase a baby. A juvenile that is at least a year old to an adult is what you want to be looking for. The Turtle Source always has them for sale but some species can be a little pricey on that site.
http://theturtlesource.com/turtle_inventory.asp?cat=333&id=100200326
Well, I live in the middle of nowhere... which is part of my problem. I live in a very rural part of Illinois. My town doesn't even have stoplights or a McDonalds, so you can see why it's difficult to find a good pet store.
If the experts here think it's OK to have them shipped, then I will just go with that. Thanks for the link, that's exactly what I'm looking for.
