Reptile & Amphibian Forums

so i am getting a couple hatchlings/youngsters this weekend. I am going to start them out in a 20 gal. i went to petco today to find a filter. all the filters there are made to be mounted on top with the water level close to the top.

now of course im not going to have the water level that high, so i was wondering if anyone here could give me some advice on that issue? maybe a special piece of equipment i could use to mount the filter inside the tank and at lower water level? or is there a special type of filter to use? anyways any advice helps. thanks

Try a different store. There are filters made for laying at the bottom of the tank, or in very shallow water anyway, and they're perfect for turtles. I found mine at Petsmart. The brand is Tetra. Not too expensive either. The only issue I've had with them is that you can't go too long without rinsing them out, which is a good thing really. That's probably related to how much food I'm throwing in too. Get one that's made for more gallons of water than you have in your setup, like one model ahead. Then you know you'll have enough power to move the water and clear waste that settles.

thanks for the advice.

you say get one for more water that is in my set up. I have a 20 gal. but im only goin to fill maybe 1/3 of it with water(its not very tall, just long). So if get a 20 gal filter that should be sufficient since it will be pumping much less water than what its for right? Is that what you ment by that? do correct me if im mistaken. thanks again for the advice.

Filters that have suction cups to stick to the sides of the glass are probably your best bet. I don't know the brands but check some out at any good petshop. Those carbon filters you place at the top don't always work with turtles, and don't try to jerry-rig it, or it may cause electrocution.

One thing to be aware of too, is that the hatchling doesn't get sucked up by whatever filter you use. And watch out for gravel and sliding rocks, which is the number one cause of death with hatchlings. They drown.

You're right, daveski. I meant to get one with more power than the tank you're getting. They don't seem to have alot of power to me. But if you have tiny hatchlings that will struggle against a strong current, you may want the smaller light powered ones. The smallest one Tetra makes barely moves a few inches of water in a ten gallon. And you can play with how you have it set up, too. I had mine turned into a corner so the water was a little deflected against the glass, and not pushing the turtle around, since he is small. (stinkpot type musk). they come with suction cups to attach to the side, but my turtle was always trying to get behind it and pulling it away anyway, so I just made sure the cord going up was anchored down so he couldn't get tangled in it.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. NO GRAVEL. They will absolutely eat it when looking for sunken food and get impacted. Try smooth river rocks that pet stores have, or find some yourself that are smooth and boil them first. Your tank will be cleaner. The turtles will love climbing on them and they look great and natural anyway. A little piece of driftwood looks nice too. They always look cool hanging on wood.

yea not gonna use small gravel or any large rocks(that may fall over on the little guys). i am going to use large grape sized river rocks for the bottom. i found the filter i needed today. its fully submersible and is actually make for aquatic turtles.
thank you for your advice

I have used the small outside pond pumps with great
results on my hatchling. They are small, submersible and
you just rinse out the sponge a couple times a week. Also,
the current is not so strong as to trap and drown the
hatchlings. You can get these at any home improvement
stores that carry ponds and equipment.

Hope this helps
Linda