Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Back in the days when I had hatchlings, I found that the babies, and juvies that had stone on the bottom of the tank fared much better than those on bare glass.
Exceptions to this were my snapper hatchlings. They do well on anything.
However, as the collection grew, I find that the stones really are one more thing to clean, and man do they hold garbage.
I use river stone, about 3/4", and AquaClear filters.
And pump out every couple of weeks.
Anyone here keep their tank bottoms bare for the adult, and sub adult turtles?
Species kept this way are spotteds , musk, muds, spiny softshell,( his stay for burrowing), alli snapper, and DBT.
I'd love to get rid of the stones, and in doing so keeping the tanks cleaner.
Who keeps substrate, and who does'nt?

I have and eastern painted with a bare bottomed tank and she does just fine.

Hey burmaboy, I keep RES's and a snapper in seperate rubber ponds with no substrate. They do well, but this is more for ease of maintanence and if I had a much larger facility I would be more likely to try a more natural setting.

No substrate here either. I have a western painted who'd rather sit on his basking rock most of the day anyway & a yellow mud turtle with no substrate. Both have been here since they were hatchlings, neither had substrate as hatchlings, they are 11 & 9 years old now.
The mud has a hide box in his tank, he'd rather spend most of his time there. I look at the hide box as a substitute for substrate.. as long as he feels safe & hidden he's fine.
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PHRatz

Go buy a "Python" what a great tool!
Hook it up to your sink and hydrovac all of that waste down the drain! Reverse the flow and fill. No more shlepping buckets!
Plus you can keep a more naturalistic setup!
Mike
Alligator Snappers!