Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can I see pics of how you guys have set up your habitats for youe RES's? I have a 55gallon that I just dont know what to do to make it eye catching and healthy for my RES.... Any ideas?

Go to http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/index.pl?cat=547&thumb=1

it is the gallery page for RES.
God Bless
Deejay
Link

Anything you do will be uprooted by the turtles, so don't get too attached to any tank setup.

-----

What are your basking spots made of ? Is that cork bark ? I bought some last week and I am having some trouble with it. It floats so my turtle has trouble getting up becuase it moves around. I tried anchoring one side down so it gives him a ramp and it stays put and that worked well until I switched to a larger aquarium today. I had looped string around the end of the cork bark and the other around a rock at the bottom. But now the tank is too deep to do that. Also is it normal that the water changed colour after a couple days of it in there ? My turtle spent most of his time eating the bark or trying to at least. It was a real mess. I'm debating weither to return the bark and find something else that he wont dine on when he's bored.

Yes, that was cork bark, I just attached suction cups to it and stuck it to the side of the tank. It worked great for a few months and then got waterlogged and sank. It can change the water color initially, but it doesn't hurt anything. I use a plastic turtle ramp now, which I am not too thrilled with, it's suction cups never stay stuck and I always have to re-attach it. Also, it tends to burn under the basking lights even tho they aren't very hot. I've seen a new basking platform that I might try when I get sick of this one, it has two poles that go through the back of the platform so the platform can slide up and down and always stay even with the water level.
-----

Dsngrl, are you talking about the Zoo Med turtle dock? I bought one of those as a Christmas present for my turtle and I absolutely adore it. They adjust to the water level so there's always a dry spot, and there's also a partly-submerged ramp that the turts can use to clim from the water to the basking area. The suction cups are pretty strong; one of the ones on the bottom occasionally pops off a bit but the other three are more than enough to keep the platform in place. I've never used cork bark, but I've used rocks, and let me tell you I much prefer this to rocks. A lot simpler. I got mine, the small version which fits my 3-incher well, at Reptile Direct but they also sell the small version at a Petco. I know I must sound like a shill, but it's truly my favorite turtle-related item. Peace.
-----
0.0.1 Crumpet
In this world, this new world of ours, there will be rocking.
~Dave Eggers

Yes, this one:

http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/Turtle_Docks_with_automatic_self_leveling_feature_286300.html

I can't believe it is only 19 dollars here, the pet store has it for $35. I may have to order it now
-----

I love the turtle dock too. My turtle loves it as well. I have something in the water underneath the dock that my turtle can move around if he wants but it also serves as a place for him to rest. Its really cute when my turtle sticks his head up from underneath the dock. I like to play a game with him where I tap my finger against his nose. Each time I do it he ducks but then sticks his nose up even farther each time. Really fun!!