Reptile & Amphibian Forums

MayDay,
Didn't you tell me once that a 40 gallon regular tank is a pretty good size for a mud? Just as good as a 40g breeder?

That student of mine never did come through with the tank that may or may not have been a 40g breeder. Last I heard she almost got it out of the attic but didn't.
I described what I've been looking for but she didn't know what the measurements were.. just that it was wider & shorter than a regular fish aquarium.

So now I have found a 40 gallon tank that's bowed outward in the middle so the floor space in that area is very wide which is what Scooter is used to. His Rubbermaid box is 3 feet long and is 2 feet wide.. he couldn't get used to the crampedness of that 30 gallon I bought him before. It was so narrow compared to what he's used to, he hated it & so did I.

Now I am seriously thinking about getting that tank I saw at the pet store. There's plenty of room to have his hide box in the center of it, plenty of room for a floating dock on the side & of course then I'll probably end up having to get a new filter but.. that can happen later.
This 40g is on sale for 20 dollars off, I have gift cards totalling $130.00 I have a 100 cash that was also a Christmas gift I'd be out zero from my own pocket with $ left over.
I figure I can't beat that with a stick!

A regular but odd shaped 40g should work fine don't ya think?

We still have the 30.. we're seriously thinking about using it as a fish aquarium so it won't sit collecting dust.
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PHRatz

the more floor space you can give a bottom walker, the better. I keep my loggerhead musk in a standard 75. be careful of acrylic tanks they will eventually scratch and really make viewing a challenge. best of luck.

>>the more floor space you can give a bottom walker, the better. I keep my loggerhead musk in a standard 75. be careful of acrylic tanks they will eventually scratch and really make viewing a challenge. best of luck.

Thank you for the reply. As far as I can tell this tank I'm looking at isn't acrylic but you know before I actually buy it.. I'll check on that to make sure it really is glass.

I'd keep the Rubbermaid but it's got raised areas on it.. so those are starting to bother his plastron. When he first moved into it he was much smaller & weighed less than he does now. I want him out of that thing & into something he'd be more comfortable in.
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PHRatz

Sounds like a good trade off. But since Scooter is used to so much room, anything less will take time to adjust to.
But then, the aquarium will make a much more interesting set up for viewing him.

>>Sounds like a good trade off. But since Scooter is used to so much room, anything less will take time to adjust to.
>>But then, the aquarium will make a much more interesting set up for viewing him.

yeah in other words I'll have to make up my own mind on this lol.
I know I know..
I think before I actually pay out $$ on this thing I'll get a measuring tape for that bottom to make sure it's wide enough for him.
I'd so love to see him in a nice tank that he can be happy in.
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PHRatz

Yeah, I hear ya. Muddies are one of those turtles that, because of their personalities you want to spoil them. They are almost like little dogs. But then, I have always been one of those keepers who tries to go overboard on space for my turtles.
Do the measuring and find out where you are for floor space for Scooter.
Then, one day you need to pair 'him' up and try and breed them. Hatchling yellow muds are a panic.

>>Yeah, I hear ya. Muddies are one of those turtles that, because of their personalities you want to spoil them. They are almost like little dogs. But then, I have always been one of those keepers who tries to go overboard on space for my turtles.
>> Do the measuring and find out where you are for floor space for Scooter.
>> Then, one day you need to pair 'him' up and try and breed them. Hatchling yellow muds are a panic.

If this rotten weather would ever clear up so that I can get back to the store to look at this thing.. it'd be nice.
The sale ends next week so I still have some time.
I'm like you I want go overboard with space for all my critters. We caught a lovebird in the back yard then bought her a flight cage that is so large it's hard to see her in there amongst all the toys. lol
I'm a big believer in the more room the better for whatever species I have. I want to be able to see Scooter better but I want him to be happy too.
Breeding him.. oh my gosh I don't know a soul who has a mud turtle. They are native to this area & when Scooter goes to classes or once to a boy scout thing where he was being looked at nobody ever has a clue what he is. They've never seen one yet they are native to this region.
My DH thinks we went overboard with the box turtle pen but you know I LOVE it & so do they:

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PHRatz

>>MayDay,
>>Didn't you tell me once that a 40 gallon regular tank is a pretty good size for a mud? Just as good as a 40g breeder?

It's floor space you want... more floor space & less height. Most aquariums have too much height to them as fish need the vertical space more than horizontal so that of course makes it a challenge for reptile keepers who need the opposite usually.
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PHWyvern

>>It's floor space you want... more floor space & less height. Most aquariums have too much height to them as fish need the vertical space more than horizontal so that of course makes it a challenge for reptile keepers who need the opposite usually.

Yup floor space is what I am after. I finally found the piece of paper I'd written the numbers on for the size of a 40g breeder.
It'd be perfect.
Last night I dragged workaholic DH to the pet store to look at this bowed tank.. well we decided we don't think it will work. It is glass, not acrylic but the widest part of the floor is only 15 inches and the tank is deep.
So when we got home I emailed that pet store 110 miles away to make sure they are still carrying the 40g breeder.
Now that I have finally pounded into DH's head what Scooter needs & why, he finally wants to drive over there & get the tank.
I just hope since these people moved the pet store to a new location that they still carry the 40g breeder. I'm waiting on a reply now.
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PHRatz