Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my RES in a 35 gallon tank, filled halfway. What is the sufficient heater to use? I did buy a 100 watt, and I recently exchanged it because the water temp was only 65 - 70, and the light was blinking on it which made me tend to think that maybe it was broken?? Or is my heater too small? Thanks.
-----
11 frogs - 5 peepers/3 RETF's/2 WTF's/1 GTF
8 turtles - 1 wood/6 boxers/1 RES
1 Male Veiled Chameleon
and of course the usual rabbits and a dog!

Do you have a heat lamp for basking? In a tank that small the heat lamp should be enough to keep the water warmer than 60 degrees.
-----

Yes there is a basking light by the floating dock. This tank is about 3 feet long, not too small! The RES is about 2 1/2 inches.
-----
11 frogs - 5 peepers/3 RETF's/2 WTF's/1 GTF
8 turtles - 1 wood/6 boxers/1 RES
1 Male Veiled Chameleon
and of course the usual rabbits and a dog!

I didn't say too small, but compared to my tank it is small. My tank stays 75 degreeswithout a heater, just room temp with a 100 watt heat bulb over the basking platform. Are you sure your thermometer is accurate? How cold is the room? Your water can't be colder than the room temp.
-----

I don't know if your water heater was working but the one I have does tend to "blink". It keeps the water at a pretty constant 74 and only clicks on briefly if the water gets a little to cool. It does sort of blink on and off. If you had set the water heater to a warmer temp and were not achieving those results I would think that the light would remain on until the water warmed to the proper temp. Most of the water heaters that I have looked at would all be adequate for a 35 gallon especially if it is only half full. I think you should get another one and splurge for the kind that has an exact temp setting and check out the packaging to find out for sure how many gallons it will heat. 65 degrees is too cool for your turtle.

Nancy