Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted in cage design forum but none have responded yet. Does anyone know how to keep water clean? It's a 20gal long tank with about 35% water. I don't need the water oxygenated, I need it to go through the filter and kept clean, to keep it from going stagnant. Please, any ideas?

Get one of those Dr.'s foster and smith pet magazines. They have many filters for things just like that. I know you probably have your mind set on doing this, but I highly recomend just kepig it simple, at leats till it eats very well, or even out of your hand. Most of my wyters will take fish very readily out of my hand. As weird as it may seem the water reaaly can do bad if it is 1.) not clean 2.) to much water 3.) or both. I would suggets putting the snake in a simple plastic (escape proof) box and wait till you get the filtration and any other problems fixed. But I know how it is when you have your mind set on something. If your like me you will stop at nothing till it is done.
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Justin

LOL. I actually did have my mind set and I did get it done. While I was working today I visited the frogs and saw their aquaterrium for the first time. I also saw the water filtration they were using, and it was exactly what I was looking for. The cool thing about this one is it doesn't make bubbles and the snake can swim underneath it. Tomorrow I buy him more fish and some bullfrog tadpoles (well, I'll get em for free). It's good to work a reptile and fish store.

I use small internal filters made by Fluval or Duetto (there are other brands out there as well). They clean and circulate the water fairly well and only require cleaning of the sponge about once a week. You just have to make sure the body of water is large enough to house one of these filters as they need several inches of water in order to operate. If this is your first time with watersnakes, I'd take Justin's advice into consideration. The simpler setups are always easier and sometimes more effective. I maintain semiaquatic setups mainly for aesthetic reasons.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

so will those work even if the snake deficates in the water? i have two fluval filters and was going to try something like that till i moved. since then i have just left it simple with a tupperware bowl in there. the snake seems to deficate in the bowl every day which has turned me off to setting up a semi aquatic because i didn't think the filter would adequately clean the water. anyone else have or overcome this problem?

Well, I either haven't had that problem or the filter sucked it up before I could see it. So far I haven't found any crap in the cage, but I haven't really looked yet as I've had him for a short time and his cage isn't really the hottest thing (keep it about 70* with a basking spot of about 75-80*). I'll keep you posted though.