Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i need to change up my common snapper's setup. he is 4.5" and in a 40 breeder that he got out of yesterday. the water is almost up to the top since i hadnt had any problems. there are 2 basking turtles in there as well, same size as him and no he doesnt show any aggression toward them, and i have already been through why i shouldnt have them together but if you still feel you need to tell me go ahead and i will read it. i can change the 40 breeder around, use a 30 breeder, or use a 55. i have a lot of whisper filters and that is my favorite type of filter, thats what is keeping that tank crystal clear now, but if anyone knows of one that would work really well in a 55 i would like one that would be internal. external would be an option too, but if there isnt a difference i would prefer internal. i was thinking bare bottom since some of his foods (all are pellets) sink and it will be easier for him to see them if it is bare bottom, also deter him from eating gravel while eating food. if i go bare bottom i would put a cat litter pan in there with gravel in it and a cave to hide in, so he can still dig down under his cave. what do you guys think of that? if anything isnt clear please ask so i can clarify.

I would put him in the 55 gallon but not fill it all the way up. I'd put around 35-40 gallons in the tank. I use gravel with mine(7 3/4" carapace) and he does fine with it. As far as sinking pellets, he'll "sniff" around on the bottom if hes hungry and find uneaten food. I wouldn't keep any other turts in with him b/c when he gets bigger, he might become agressive and bite the other turts or might try mating with them and end up harming them.
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1.0.0 Chelydra Serpentina Serpentina --- Snappy
0.0.1 Clemmys Guttatta --- Speck
1.0.0 Graptemys Pseudogeographica Pseudogeographica --- Chomper

0.1.0 Eublepharis Macularius --- Sabrina

0.1.0 American Staffordshire mix --- Daisy

Forgot to add that I use a whisper 20i and a top fin 40 gallon external filter to keep the 125 gallon tank(with around 75-80 gallons of water) clear.
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1.0.0 Chelydra Serpentina Serpentina --- Snappy
0.0.1 Clemmys Guttatta --- Speck
1.0.0 Graptemys Pseudogeographica Pseudogeographica --- Chomper

0.1.0 Eublepharis Macularius --- Sabrina

0.1.0 American Staffordshire mix --- Daisy

i think i saw your big tank and how your external power filter is actually internal on bricks, that would work since i have a bunch of extra whisper 60s laying around, and 40s, and 10s. i also have a fluval _04, not sure which size it is, i just found it last night. i wasnt planning on filling the 55, maybe 6-8" deep. i think i will try the litter pan of gravel and when i feed the sinking foods try to keep them on the bare part of the tank. thanks for your help. how should his basking area be setup? i see lots of snappers with no basking areas and they seem healthy. i was thinking even if they are active during the day they are on the bottom of the body of water so they dont get much UV, if any.

With the whisper external filter, I drilled 4 holes in the back(looks almost like a plus sign with the suction cups on the back) to hold suction cups. I did this back in February when I had my snapper in a 44 gallon corner tank. It worked excellent then and still does. I am planning on getting a Filstar XP3 or Magnum external canister filter sometime soon though. Also, from what I've gathered, as long as the food you're feeding has the right nutrients and vitamins in it, you shouldn't worry about your snapper not getting enough uv light. If you still wanna set up a basking area, rocks make excellent spots. Try to use flat ones and stack them on one end and make it so the snapper can go underneath them to chill or explore.
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1.0.0 Chelydra Serpentina Serpentina --- Snappy
0.0.1 Clemmys Guttatta --- Speck
1.0.0 Graptemys Pseudogeographica Pseudogeographica --- Chomper

0.1.0 Eublepharis Macularius --- Sabrina

0.1.0 American Staffordshire mix --- Daisy