Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 40 Breeder filled a little less than half and a happy yearly eatern painted swimming and basking. I will be purchasing a Xp3 next week and want to make the water deeper probably 3/4 full.
What is the recommended way to do water changes with a larger amount of water? Currently I'm filling 3, 5 gallon buckets and letting them sit a day or two before adding them.

Also is there a kit or way i can test the water for chlorine from the tap? I guess if there is not alot of chlorine i could just add the tap water straight.

I have seen and heard alot about the phython, but how does it work? Now i'm using a 6 foot self priming tube i picked up at loews that i have to shake up and down a couple times to get started and i'm, filling a separate 5 gallon bucket with the old water, kinda pain in the arse...

Sorry for the long post, but I'm a rookie, thanks Rich

Yes I use the Python and love it. I would not be able to do it any other way. I used to use a bucket with my 20 long, but now they are bigger I have a 90 and it would be stupid to use a bucket. I would kill myself trying to lift it that high! I am upset though because when I got the Python it was about $50 for 50'and now it's only $38! I should buy another just because it's so cheap and give it as a gift! They rock!
Python

I just read ladybugs message, I didn't know the Python was available in a 50' length. Sounds like something worth trying out. My submersible pump was $100. and that was over 3 years ago.
So, ladybug, how quickly does it drain the tank?
Bob, Philadelphia.

Well it drained the 20 longs really fast but the 90 gal is a diff story. I only have it halfway filled and it still takes forever! It is well worth it though because I don't think I could do it with buckets. That would take all day! The Python is worth it! Plus if I had a better filter I would not have to do a full drain all the time.

Hey Rich,
I've heard a lot of good things about the python, it's basically a 2 way hose. One end goes in the tank while the other end goes to a sink. You drain the tank into the sink and then attach the hose to the faucet and fill the tank back up. The only catch here is that you need to be within 25' of a sink.
I happen to have a small submersible pump that I attach a 25' hose to. I empty the tank of all decor, then use the pump to vacuum out everything as it's pumping out the water. I've got a mark on the tank side just above the filter inlets. That's where I stop the outflow, that way I don't have to reprime my filters. So actually it's like a 90% water change, but all the dirt is gone. Then I detach the pump, hook the hose end in the sink to the faucet and fill it back up.
About tap water. Don't worry about it. I'm sure somebody might argue this, but I don't believe it has any detrimental effect.
I put my guys in the fresh tap water everytime. If they were scratching their eyes or blinking alot I might think otherwise. But they show no effectation. I asked the breeder that I bought mine from, about using tap water and he said to me,"these guys can live in cesspools, tap water is the least of your worries."
That answer worked for me.
Bob, Philadelphia.

And if the tap water idea does bother you, Aquasafe or Chlor-out will eliminate the chloramines quite quickly. I have fish in my tank, so I use it when I change the water with no ill effects. If it doesnt kill the fish, it cant be all that bad for the turtles. As far as cesspools, the only cesspool I see aquatic turtles living in are the tanks at the pet stores.
-----

Checker,
If you check out the link I posted you will see the Python now comes in many sizes. Besides the 50 foot there is also a 75 foot and a 100 foot! You can also buy attachments. If you have a 25 foot and wanted to make it longer you could buy an attachment and make it any length you want (depending how long the attachment you buy is).

I just got my 50' python, and im not too impressed yet. Perhaps its because I havent vacuumed the gravel in quite some time, or that small pieces of the parrots feather get sucked up too, but it seemed awfully slow compared to a regular gravel siphon. Now the convenience was great of not lugging buckets back and forth to the sink. I wish they made one with a thicker hose tho.
-----