Help! my painted turtles tank gets so dirty, there is a filter but still smell and sludge, and brown water!?!

Question

We got him a little over 2 months ago and his water was clear for about 3 weeks when we first got him... after that we change the water once about every 2 weeks and it still looks brown. we bought him a turtle filter and a little pelet thing that goes at the bottom of the tank to keep other things from growing inside.

but still he smells and i dont no if that is normal??

there is a slim that gets on his shell and on the walls and filter, we dont no what it is but its brownish colour to?

then this morning when i woke there were like little white peices of sludge floating on top of the water. i skimed most of them out?

is any of this normal for a turtle tank!!!?!?!?!

Answer 1

This only happens with a small tank andsmall producing filter and probably over feeding.

Feed minows and or guppies and goldfish (carp) that they eat in the wild. They eat leaft greens like romaine and  butter lettuce. Feed the dried ceral food a few times a week. http://flickr.com/photos/29035692@N03/27...

Answer 2

how big is your tank??

Answer 3

Turtles are very messy animals!  Make sure you have a powerful filter and change the filter cartridge every week.  Change water in the tank and scrub out the tank and anything else in the tank at least once a week.  Dirty water will quickly lead to a sick turtle.  These guys are a LOT of work.  

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/

Answer 4

The filter should be rated for a tank twice the size of the one you are using it in. You may need a second filter. If there is a pond or slow stream nearby, you might be able to collect a batch of snails. The ones your turtle doesn't eat will help to keep the tank clean.

Answer 5

yes this is normal for a turtle.  clean his tank out once a week.  another thing you can do to really help a dirty tank is to feed your turtle in another tank.  these guys make most of their mess while feeding so feeding in another should help.

Answer 6

That is normal.  Follow KimbeeJ's advice, plus feed it outside of the tank.  Turtles usually p**p as they eating, or just afterward, so placing it in another container when eating will keep your tank clean longer.