Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I have two 5 inch Red Eared Sliders in a 20 gallon long tank. I am upgrading to a 75 gallon tank with the dimensions of 48"x18"x21". I want to purchase it from www.glasscages.com and I want to know if they sell quality tanks and if they are dependable. I've heard that the rule of the thumb is 10 gallons of tank for each inch of turtle. Well...I am only 12 years old and I'm not exactly overflowing with money! I have a list of supplies which are below. Could you tell me if there is anything that needs to be changed. Or if you know where to get these thing for cheaper. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOMED

Thank you in advance

Filtering- Fluval 3 Plus Internal Filter 185 GPH- Price: 21.99- Online Carrier: Bigalsonline.com

Filtering- Fluval 4 Plus Internal Filter 260 GPH- Price: 29.99- Online Carrier: Bigalsonline.com

Heater- Via Aqua Titanium Heater 300 Watt- Price: 19.99- Online Carrier: Bigalsonline.com

Tank Stand- Big Al’s Money Saver Stand 48x18- Price: 89.99- Online Carrier: Bigalsonline.com

Tank Screen- Tough Top Screen Cover 48x18 Heavy Mesh (1/4”)/ 75 gallon aquarium size- Price: 17.50- Online Carrier: Herpsupplies.com

Tank Clips- Tough Top L-Shaped Clips for Screen Covers- X Large, 2 Pack- Price: 1.50- Online Carrier: Herpsupplies.com

Tank- 75 Gallon Tall 48x18x21- Price- 95.00- Online Carrier- Glasscages.com

The shipping is what is going to kill you with glasscages.com. The only way to order from them and have it be reasonable is if there is a reptile show in your area and you can pick the tank up instead of having it shipped.

You don't want an internal filter, they do a terrible job and take up a lot of swimming room.
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Since you are 12 and need to save some money, I have a few suggestions on how to do so.

Check your local paper everyday/week for tanks for sale. I see them in my paper all the time. 55gals and up so they are out there and much cheaper than buying from a store. I would also check yard sales (although I only ever see 20 gal tanks at those) and flea markets in your area. You can also just go to home depo and get a huge plastic bin (they have clear ones if you like to see through to the turtle) and use that till you can get him a tank.

I do not have a wire mesh lid on top of my 90 gal tank and my turtle does just fine because I don't have the water high enough for him to be able to get out. So if you don't think your turtle can get out then don't bother with the lid. If you do get the lid I don't think you need the clips. I didn't have clips on my 20 long wire mesh lid and my turtle never escaped (now he is in the 90 gal).

You also don't need a heater if your house is always at a good temp. I would suggest a thermomitor for the water and one for the basking area though so you always know the temp and if it drops too low you can then get a heater.

I don't think I saw anything for lights. You will need a basking light (a regular light bulb) and a UVB bulb for your tank. Or you can get those expensive two in one light bulbs but I don't suggest it since you are trying to save money. You can get a clip on light fixture to hold the basking light and then do the same for the UVB bulb or get one of those long ones and put it in a hood light fixture on the top of the tank.

You will also need a basking area. There are many diff. ways you can make one (or you can buy an already made one) so just look around and experament till you find something that works good for you.

Good luck with your turtle!

hi!

i just adopted my two RES and have researched for two months proir to adopting on housing. since im on a fixed income,i took the preformed indoor pond method. this was really cheap for everything i needed, right down to food, im using a cheap 48" shop lite fixture, and Verilux 48" florescent tubes ( i would reccomend using reptile lights tho, because i don't know the stats on these bulbs since they were made for plants) and the most expensive part about this set up was the external pond filter i bought for 363 bucks, it was made for ponds up to 1500 gallons. everything including GST came up to just under 900 bucks, this is a far cheaper price that ordering stuff and buying an aquarium and i found it all at my local canadian tire, home depot, plant stores and aquarium warehouses. please email for a detailed summary of prices and location if you are interested wandering_s_t_a_r@yahoo.com i have provided a link to a good reference to making indoor ponds for turtles.
building indoor pond enclosures for Aquatic turtles.

this person is only 12... do you really think that he/she has 900 bucks to spend on turtles? i'm just wondering... because i know whenever i was 12, i didnt have but a few dollars to my name. let alone almost a thousand dollars! but your setup sounds pretty cool... got any pics for us to see?
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

Hi!

well i never said she should do this , but i know if i had bought and shipped that tank and bought the other stuff too, it would have cost me more. as for pics, im sorry but i have no scanner so im going to get one of those piture CD from kodak probably in the next coupla days.

heres an example of an even cheaper alternative to my pond set up, minus filter(please note all these i got in Calgary, AB, Canada)

50 gallon rubbermaid: 21.99 @ canadian tire
175 watt infrared chill chaser@canadian tire:8.99
200 watt Exo-terra ceramic heat lamp fixture@ Petsmart:32.00
clamp for fixture:12.99
48" Verilux florescent tube 22 bucks@ Lee Valley Tools
48" shop light fixture@canadian tire:22.99
River Rocks to build base of basking spot: free
Slates to make platform:32 cents per pound; 25 pounds
two digital terrarium/aquarium temp therm. :10.99 each
Won 350 watt titanium submersible heater: 90.00 @ Big Al's Aquarium Services
2 x-large tobbaco tubs with holes drilled into it, then siliconed together to make a cover for heater: free

total: about 200 give a little bit more for gst and whatever you decide on for a filter, food, vitamins and calcium powder, and produce. Still could run you about 400 bucks especially if you want the filstar Xp. this is the minimum you need to take adaquate care of your turtles, not all you need.

thanks for reading.

Nicole

Nicole, I don't think you are using "just the basics". This person does not need a "chill chaser" and he/she could get a clamp light for a 60 watt basking bulb at home depot for under $10, I think you spent close to $50 on that. I use an AquaClear 300 filter which works fine (I would rather have a Filstar XP3) and you can get that for $18 at bigalsonline. You can buy a thermometer at your local petstore for $2. Check the water temp before you invest in a heater you might not need, an even then you can get one for $15. I think you have a great setup for your turtles but it is not a basic setup.

The turtle NEEDS as much swimming room as possible, a place to get out of the water and bask, lights that provide heat and UVB, clean water in the mid 70's and food. The rest is nice to have but not a must.

Nancy

hi, naheene

i stand corrected. but like i said in my posts, i was giving helpful tips not telling her to go out and buy him/her turtles this stuff. i was suggesting these things because he/she was thinking of ordering that big tank, maybe waiting 6-8 weeks, and it being a pain to clean, and had nothing mentioned for lighting. Remember im just a noob to turtles too!

and anyway, on the brighter side, thanks for the price quotes, im adopting a beardie next week and need to set her up too

also, i just can't wait to show off my habitats and my RES!!!!

Nicole

I know everyone says to opt out of buying one of the 2 in one bulbs cause they are too expensive. However, if you really think about it ....because you only have to buy ONE bulb and ONE fixture, it can save you money. This way you are also sure to get the UVA and UVB exposure that you need. I suggest Zoo Med Powersun UV bulbs. They can be purchased for between $50 and $80 dollars...so be sure you shop around before buying.

but i have seen people say that you really dont need a UVA light... unless i have misunderstood. most say that you can use a regular 60 watt lightbulb for heat. is a UVA light really needed? by the way, can anyone tell me how to secure my UVB light? i just changed my tank to a larger one (this one doesnt have a hood on it) so how can i secure a UVB bulb and what type of light fixture should i use to put it in? thanks for any advice!
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

You can use one of those shop light fixtures. They sell them at K-Mart, Home Depot, Walmart and so on. I bet you already have one for your basking bulb. Just shine it so it shines on the basking area and out across the water too. So clip it on the shorter side of the tank and don't shine it directly down on the basking area.

thanks for the advice... but i actually just got back from the pet store and spent about $30 on a strip light. is that a really bad price? it seemed pretty reasonable, and since im leaving for school soon i just bought it figuring i didnt know when i'd have time to buy something else.
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

I agree that the two in one is probably better but it is alot cheaper to get two in the long run. Yes you have to get two fixtures and two bulbs but the heat bulb can be as simple as a regular bulb that you probably have laying around the house anyway so that saves you money every time the bulb blows. The other bubl is only like $8 so instead of paying at least $50 every 6 weeks you can just pay $8 because you have already sprung for the two fixtures and you already have a regular bulb laying around the house. I agree that if you have the money then you should spring for the more expensive two in one bulb but telling a 12 year old to pay $50 every 6 weeks is crazy.

No one needs to replace their UVB bulb every six weeks. Maybe you have heard that the strength of the UVB declines over time and some keepers replace the bulb every six MONTHS. I am using a Zoomed Powersun bulb that provides heat AND UVB and I paid $35 for it at reptiledirect.com. The bulbs are not $50 to $80 and they have a 2 year warranty.

Nancy

i was told by the pet store guy that the UVB light will need to be replaced at least once ever year.... so should it actually be replaced every 6 months???
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

$8 ????? i just bought a UVB light today that cost me almost $20... i asked the guy for a UVB light and that's what he pulled out. was it REALLY only supposed to be $8?? if it was, i definitely got ripped off!
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~ Evie

Pets:
0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger and Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.1 Snail {Gary}

A UVB light will cost a lot more than $8. Unless it specically says UVB on it, it is not. "Full spectrum" is a term often used on reptile lights but that does not mean it includes UVB. You did not pay too much.

Nancy

on the bulbs i mentioned there is a 1 year warranty so if it blows before a year (which it shouldn't) you can get another one for free from the manufacturer. If you blow it out every 6 weeks something is wrong with your fixture
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crazyjgrl82