Size and Filter…

The shell length high thing would be a minimum depth. It can be much deeper if you want. They are great swimmers even as hatchlings. Make sure to provide a basking rock or log with at least a 100W Basking Spot (heat) lamp over it. They make special clamps for these with ceramic sockets for the bulbs to help dissipate the heat. Don’t use a regular desk lamp with it. Also, you need a UVB light, like a Reptisun 5.0 or Repti-Glo 8.0. The bulbs are pricey, like $30, but they are ABSOLUTELY necessary for good health, along with the heat lamp. Proper lighting, food, and clean water are the best way to keep your turtle healthy! Just make sure with the UVB lamp that there is no cover between the bulb and turtle, and the closer the better (like 6-12″ away). The basking spot should be about 8-12″ away. You could put river rock (rinsed) in the bottom as a substrate. It’s cheap and pretty and natural. It’s also easy to clean around. Also, some Anacharis plants weighted down w! ! ould be good. As for filtration, you need a filter that moves about 10 times the amount of water per hour. For that size, like a 350 or 500 gph filter with additional biological filtration. They aren’t too expensive for the ones that hang off the sides. Like $50 or so. A canister filter (like Fluval 404 or Rena Filstar XP2 or 3 would be ideal, but will run about $100-$110 mail order + shipping). Good luck! Walt G. —–Original Message—– From: grndtrn [mailto:grandtrain@…] Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 4:47 PM To: diamondbackterrapins@yahoogroups.com Subject: [diamondbackterrapins] Size and Filter…diamondbackterrapins-unsubscribe@egroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/