Setting up our tank…

Andy & Sonia asked: What are good types of gravel/substrate for our turtles? I use crushed coral – keeps the water balanced and they can ingest while eating, but I’ve never seen a problem with it. It is expensive, but lasts. There are also other ways to do this, like Carib Sea Aragamax Aragonite Sand. The pretty stuff you mention is fine for display, but does nothing for the turtles. Should we only use real plants, or is it ok to use artificial plants in the aquarium? Artificial is better IF the turtles don’t eat them – I’ve had turtles eat plastic plants – not good. Should we get an airstone? No. It’s there to oxygenate the water for fish and most filtration does that well enough. And the turtles don’t need it. But if you want a silly skull that opens and closes, you may need an airstone. Some hatchlings will play with the bubbles too! Keep us posted! Dimitri **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)

I use Florida Crushed Coral in both my DBT tanks and I highly recommend it! My DB’s do chew it up (and eat it) on a regular and daily basis, but they don’t swallow it whole. They chew or “crush” it first, almost into a dust before they swallow it! Even if they did swallow an occasional piece whole, this substrate is physically small enough that it would pass thru their digestive system. Many very experienced, long time DB keepers have been using this stuff for years and years with no problems, so I have no worries. As the turtles chew and crush the coral, it keeps their beaks trimmed down and it also keeps their crushing plates in shape. It’s a great natural source of Calcium as well. It’s pretty much the perfect substrate for DBT’s. BigAl’s was the cheapest I could find it last time I checked (even when you include the S&H charges). Most people use about one pound per gallon, but you probably can get by with just the one 40 pound bag if you just want a thin layer (which will be easier to maintain anyway). http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18315/si1379469/cl1/carib_sea_crushed_coral_40_lbs?&query=Crushed+Coral&queryType=0&offset= Real plants are nice for keeping down your nitrates, but are a pain in the butt because your turtles usually will be constantly digging them up and making a mess of your tank. For that reason, I don’t recommend them and I use all fake plants in my tank (both silk and plastic). I use large, OVER-sized plants that go all the way to the surface of the tank so the turtles have something to rest on and they use them as “sleep stations” as well. I have never had a problem with my turtles trying to eat them, but I have heard of other folks that have. I epoxy the plastic base of all my plants to a small piece of slate and bury it in the crushed coral so it stays where I put it and this helps to keep the turtles from digging them up. I have airstones in all of my tanks because I have fish in all of my Turtle Tanks. I bury the air stones under the Crushed Coral and this helps to oxygenate the gravel bed as well as provide some surface agitation (which increases the oxygen level in the water). Airstones help a little bit, but they are considered a cosmetic thing by many. Please let us know if you have any other specific questions! Take care, Jimbo