Habitat - Outdoor :: Need Help Creating Suitable Habitat In Pond

[Kookala]

Sand preferably. But I thought all female turtles needed it? It's a habitat requirement.

[N4784N R4613]

My RES already gets on the rock that is directly below the lamp, so I don't think I will need an artificial basking area.

Maybe I'll buy it just in case.

Yeah, you don't NEED the cork bark, I just thought it would take up less swimming room since it floats on the surface. You can also move it around easier, and clean it easier, you do have to tie it off, to get it to stay in one place though...

Sand preferably. But I thought all female turtles needed it? It's a habitat requirement.

Only when they are gravid (pregnant). Once they are gravid, then you need to provide a place for them to lay there eggs. Most people just take them to the park, or put them in there yard(if it is warm enough). She should walk around for awhile, and then start digging like crazy. Once she is satisfied with the hole, she will lay the eggs.

[Kookala]

How can you tell if they are gravid?

[c8r9x]

Well, there you go. You can buy everything in the 100 gallon range.

Here is how much it will cost to set it up...

Light( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 0836000000 ): $44.99

Pondmaster 190(not in the link above http://store.seacorals.net/supo190popof.html): $54.99

Heaters (you will need two http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12060 ) : $16.49 + $16.49 = $32.98.

And some kind of basking area(I'd say go with the cork bark.
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=Cork-312M ): $10.00

Total cost: $142.96

While I was sitting outside last night contemplating the set up, I realized another issue that I wanted to address. Timing on the lighting. The socket I have now works, but doesn't have a timer. Is there anyway I can buy a timer to add to the socket?

[c8r9x]

My RES already gets on the rock that is directly below the lamp, so I don't think I will need an artificial basking area.

Maybe I'll buy it just in case.

Yeah, you don't NEED the cork bark, I just thought it would take up less swimming room since it floats on the surface. You can also move it around easier, and clean it easier, you do have to tie it off, to get it to stay in one place though...

I think I will buy the cork to see if she uses it. Worst case scenario I'm sure she will just bask where she has been.



If you go to this link it will show you the gap that my RES climbs, and where she basks.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2jezoth.jpg

[N4784N R4613]

How can you tell if they are gravid?

Thats the tricky part. It is very hard to tell. The most commen signs are, very restless, kicking at the tail, digging with back feet, and trying to get out of the tank. You can also GENTLY feel in front of the back legs for any lumps, or marble sized eggs. And if you want to be sure, you can have a vet do an x-ray.

Well, there you go. You can buy everything in the 100 gallon range.

Here is how much it will cost to set it up...

Light( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 0836000000 ): $44.99

Pondmaster 190(not in the link above http://store.seacorals.net/supo190popof.html): $54.99

Heaters (you will need two
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12060 ) : $16.49 + $16.49 = $32.98.

And some kind of basking area(I'd say go with the cork bark.
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=Cork-312M ): $10.00

Total cost: $142.96

While I was sitting outside last night contemplating the set up, I realized another issue that I wanted to address. Timing on the lighting. The socket I have now works, but doesn't have a timer. Is there anyway I can buy a timer to add to the socket?

Is there a light switch for the socket? Or is it hard-wired? If it has a light switch, you can replace the switch with something like this...
Wall Switch

It is a timer that fits into the space that a stander light switch fits. If it is hard wired, then you have to have an electrician come in, and either install a switch, or a timer for you.

My RES already gets on the rock that is directly below the lamp, so I don't think I will need an artificial basking area.

Maybe I'll buy it just in case.

Yeah, you don't NEED the cork bark, I just thought it would take up less swimming room since it floats on the surface. You can also move it around easier, and clean it easier, you do have to tie it off, to get it to stay in one place though...

I think I will buy the cork to see if she uses it. Worst case scenario I'm sure she will just bask where she has been.



If you go to this link it will show you the gap that my RES climbs, and where she basks.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2jezoth.jpg

Wow, she climbed all the way up there every time she wanted to bask!!! Poor girl!! Are you sure she can't escape if she can get all the way up there?

[c8r9x]

How can you tell if they are gravid?

Thats the tricky part. It is very hard to tell. The most commen signs are, very restless, kicking at the tail, digging with back feet, and trying to get out of the tank. You can also GENTLY feel in front of the back legs for any lumps, or marble sized eggs. And if you want to be sure, you can have a vet do an x-ray.

Well, there you go. You can buy everything in the 100 gallon range.

Here is how much it will cost to set it up...

Light( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... 0836000000 ): $44.99

Pondmaster 190(not in the link above http://store.seacorals.net/supo190popof.html): $54.99

Heaters (you will need two
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=12060 ) : $16.49 + $16.49 = $32.98.

And some kind of basking area(I'd say go with the cork bark.
http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?id=Cork-312M ): $10.00

Total cost: $142.96

While I was sitting outside last night contemplating the set up, I realized another issue that I wanted to address. Timing on the lighting. The socket I have now works, but doesn't have a timer. Is there anyway I can buy a timer to add to the socket?

Is there a light switch for the socket? Or is it hard-wired? If it has a light switch, you can replace the switch with something like this...
Wall Switch

It is a timer that fits into the space that a stander light switch fits. If it is hard wired, then you have to have an electrician come in, and either install a switch, or a timer for you.

My RES already gets on the rock that is directly below the lamp, so I don't think I will need an artificial basking area.

Maybe I'll buy it just in case.

Yeah, you don't NEED the cork bark, I just thought it would take up less swimming room since it floats on the surface. You can also move it around easier, and clean it easier, you do have to tie it off, to get it to stay in one place though...

I think I will buy the cork to see if she uses it. Worst case scenario I'm sure she will just bask where she has been.



If you go to this link it will show you the gap that my RES climbs, and where she basks.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2jezoth.jpg

Wow, she climbed all the way up there every time she wanted to bask!!! Poor girl!! Are you sure she can't escape if she can get all the way up there?

As far as the switch is concerned, there is a switch on the back of the socket, which is then controlled by a switch inside the house. I would leave the house switch on, so that the timer turns the actual bulb on and off.

With basking, yes she would climb up there to bask. I would see her at least once a day get on top of the waterfall pump, then start to slowly stand up, and pull her body onto the rock.

Once, when I first put her in the pond, I came home from running errands and found her on the 3rd "story" of the pond. I have no idea how she made it up there. I think she realized she was stuck because she was just hiding in her shell balancing on a rock.

[N4784N R4613]

You mean you would leave the switch on the light bulb socket on, and let the timer, you install, inside the house turn it on and off?

[c8r9x]

That's a good idea too, but I was thinking the other way around. I was going to put the timer on the switch located behind the socket on the pond,then leave the power switch on so that when the timer turns on and off it has power to it.

I'm guessing that's how it works.

[N4784N R4613]

Oh, ok! I thought that the switch behind the socket was one of those little pull strings ON the socket itself. You know, you pull it once and the light turns on, you pull it again and it shuts off? If it is just a normal light switch, then that should work fine. I just thought it would be easier to be able to set the timer from inside your house, instead of going outside every time the power goes out, or you want to turn the light on to take a peek, of how your RES is doing.

Also, if you put the timer inside, you can cut power to the light(using the outside switch) without having to reset the timer.

One more thing. Is the outside switch in a patio or something? Because I don't think they make any weather proof models. I can look into that if you'd like.

[c8r9x]

Oh, ok! I thought that the switch behind the socket was one of those little pull strings ON the socket itself. You know, you pull it once and the light turns on, you pull it again and it shuts off? If it is just a normal light switch, then that should work fine. I just thought it would be easier to be able to set the timer from inside your house, instead of going outside every time the power goes out, or you want to turn the light on to take a peek, of how your RES is doing.

Also, if you put the timer inside, you can cut power to the light(using the outside switch) without having to reset the timer.

One more thing. Is the outside switch in a patio or something? Because I don't think they make any weather proof models. I can look into that if you'd like.

I meant to take pictures of the complete pond a couple days ago, but yes its covered. When we get rain, which is maybe 1 week a year, it does leak a little bit. Very little.

[N4784N R4613]

So how is everything coming along?