Getting a Map Turtle....?

Question

I've decided to move up from keeping fish and to get a baby map turtle. Firstly I need to know quite a bit about the tank setup, a lot of the websites I've visited just says "full spectrum light" and I was wondering if anyone can clarify what kind of light bulb can offer that. Also, any recommendations on a good filter would be great. I will be originally be keeping the turtle in a 10 gallon that i currently have and move him up to a 20 or 30 gallon as he gets larger (and I want a boy!). What kind of filter would be good for the 10 gallon and the larger tank later on? If anyone can point me to other websites that are helpful that would be great too.

Thanks!

Answer 1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB for  8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that  they need to grow. So that means getting a turtle dock also.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

You need a good filter system, like a Penguin or Marineland.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear! This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They need leafy greens( Romaine, Butter lettuce. Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any leafy greens will do) for vitamins at least 3 to 4 times a week.

And a big tank 55 gallons or more..

Answer 2

go to your pet/reptile shop and ask about UV lights bulbs and starter units thats what it means when it say full spectrum. for the filter most say "recommended for X number of gallons" find one for twice the size of your tank. canister filters ae good for smaller tanks a good quality internal power filter. also the recomended size for a turtles tank is its shell size in inches times 10 = the number of gallons (a turtle with a shell size of 5 inches needs 50 gallons etc etc) it looks like you've been reading the minimum which a lot of people do but most keepers say these "minimum" sizes are too small. personally i would never keep a turtle of any size in anything less than a 20 gallon cause of the amount of mess they make.

have a read of this

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/reptilest...