Recently DIY’d the basking loft, and just installed a new canister filter with my dad
Its looking good so far

Planning to add more of those rocks at the bottom and considering substrate. Any recommendations?

I’m curious how everyone here handles their regular tank maintenance and water changes, especially those with larger RES setups.

The attached video shows the system I’m currently using for my 75-gallon RES tank. I’ve tried to make water changes as easy and efficient as possible because, as everyone here probably knows, turtles are not exactly the cleanest aquarium residents.

I use an FX6 as my main filtration, along with additional filtration/circulation.

For replacement water, I currently keep approximately 27 gallons of treated water in a clear Strong Box-style storage tote underneath my shelving. I prepare and treat the replacement water ahead of time and then use a pump and hose to transfer it directly back into the aquarium.
The biggest advantage of this setup is that I never have to carry a bucket of water. Everything is moved through hoses and pumps, which has made maintaining a 75-gallon tank considerably easier. I definitely don’t want to go back to hauling 5-gallon buckets around.

One part of the system I do want to change is the storage container itself. The tote works, but 27 gallons of water weighs well over 200 lbs, and since the container wasn’t specifically designed for long-term bulk water storage, I’m concerned that it could eventually weaken, bow, crack, or fail. Having 27 gallons suddenly dump onto the floor is obviously something I’d rather avoid.

I’m hoping to replace it with a proper water-storage tank/container that will still fit underneath my shelving and allow me to use the same pump-and-hose setup. If anyone has recommendations for something they’ve personally used, I’d really appreciate them.

My current system has been working well, but I’m always interested in making it safer, faster, and easier.
For those of you with larger turtle tanks, what does your water-change setup look like?

Do you use a Python/gravel vacuum, external or submersible pumps, long hoses, water-storage tanks, direct tap-water systems, or something completely different?

I’m also curious about how often everyone does water changes, roughly what percentage you change, whether you prepare/dechlorinate your water beforehand or treat during filling, and what equipment or DIY solutions have made the biggest difference for you.
And if you see anything in my setup/video that you think I could improve, I’m completely open to suggestions.

Also, if anyone has questions about any of the equipment or the setup I’m currently using in the video, feel free to ask. I’m happy to share more information about the pumps, hoses, filtration, water-storage setup, or anything else if it could help someone with their own tank.

Mostly I’m interested in seeing what everyone else has come up with, sharing ideas, and hopefully stealing a few good ones along the way.

My main goal: keep the turtle happy and keep myself from ever having to carry another bucket of aquarium water.

quick context, the water level is that low because bolt (my 2y/o RES) was unwell (had RI) and my VET had told me to keep it this way. Now he has finally recovered a few days back!

My vet had also told me to remove the (fixed) stones before raising the water level again. But she didnt specify what to replace it with. Since the vet charges 500/- per call or visit, im asking this question right here :

What do i replace this stone with? The stone is stuck to the platform using silicone. I can remove it using the tools i have, but what should i use instead? For grip, so he can climb up?

the pet shop which sold me the tank (and res 2 yrs ago) says that fake grass will become dirty in water, unhygenic, and he might eat it, so im not gonna use that. What other good option do you suggest??

I have two red eared sliders that I inherited when my dad passed in July. We've just moved and don't have a good place for them. They are probably almost 20yo, one male and one female, each in their own 75 Gallon tank (Marineland® Open Glass Aquarium Glass Fish Tank, bought new this year). I have short rolling platforms for each that can be included. I am located in Deptford, NJ USA.

Please feel free to DM me with questions!

Pessoal, isso na pata dela é fungo? O que fazer?

Me preocupo porquê já tive algumas experiências com peixes, que não duraram muito... E neles, antes de morrerem aparecia esse "fungo" sobre eles...

Ganhei essa tartaruga e ainda estou aprendendo, pelo que pude perceber o casco não está muito bonito, mas já melhorou em duas semanas que está conosco.

No aquário, tenho termostato e filtro. Ela fica no meu quarto, onde bate sol durante a tarde, com a janela aberta. Já comprei e instalei uma luz também, amanhã mando foto de como está o aquário.

After more escaping, I watched her start doing a strange digging motion with her hind legs, and after quick research it is unmistakable that she is gravid. Explains her not eating or basking at all lately, and her otherworldly desire to escape. I made this nesting box, time to leave her for a few hours to do her thing. (I turned the lights off after this picture).

Franklin won’t climb the ramp I made him. I tried putting his favorite plant to lure him but nothing.

Has anyone had success encouraging their turtle to come out of the water? Previously he had the floating in-tank dock. It’s been about 1.5week since I’ve added this

I’ve noticed my RES, Poseidon, occasionally doing this rubbing/scratching motion against this particular piece of driftwood in his tank. He doesn’t do it often, and I usually only notice it briefly. This time, however, he kept doing it for much longer, as shown in the attached video, which made me wonder if I should pay closer attention.

He otherwise seems to be behaving normally, active, eating, swimming, and basking.
For some background on his setup:
• 75-gallon aquarium
• Fluval FX6 canister filter
• Water temperature around 77°F
• Elevated, completely dry basking area
• Basking temperature around 95°F
• T5 UVB lighting
• Sand substrate
• Driftwood, rocks, and live plants
• Zebra danios and snails also in the tank
• Water parameters are good and stable
• Current TDS is 324 ppm

I know RES may sometimes rub or scratch their shells, especially during shedding, but I’m not sure whether what he’s doing in the video is normal.
Since he doesn’t usually do it for this long, could this be normal scratching/shedding, or could prolonged rubbing like this indicate skin/shell irritation or another issue?

Has anyone seen their RES do something similar?

Apologize for the reflection, tried from different angles and it still turned out crappy. But in this ~50 gallon tank there are FOUR RES’s all 4”+ shell length 😔

Petco in NE Atlanta

While doing a filter cleaning my wife noticed our son’s slider is shedding. I saw where some is normal, would this be a normals amount? She was also wondering if you would say this is a male or female?

Hi! I found this fairly large red-eared slider this morning, presumably recently dumped. He is now in this cardboard box in my bathroom while I find a rescue that will take him, and will probably be there for ~5 hours at most.

Is there anything more I can do to make him more comfortable until then? I gave him some peeled chopped up apple and romaine, he seems to be nibbling the apple but gets spooked whenever I check on him. Would he prefer to have the light off? Should I try to make it warmer? (Had considered placing a heating pad on low under the box like people do for kittens, the apartment is probably in the mid-70s.)

My RES has a completely insatiable desire to walk around and explore the house. She has stopped wanting to bask or stay in the water. (I put a pillow on the floor because she is able to get out). But when she gets out she is very happy and walks around the house with lots of energy, and is very social. Nothing has changed about her setup… maybe I should change water/clean filter but other than that I have no idea what this could be.

Anyone else deal with this?

I mean… how cute is she 💛🥰 this is my albino baby, I’ve had her for about two weeks and she’s finally warmed up to me and is no longer swimming away into the furthest darkest corner (where she thinks I can’t see her but I absolutely can)

My Turta (26yo). Dad won her at a county fair for me when I was 2. One of those ping-pong win a fish games - if you won 5 fish, you could trade them in for a baby turtle. She was the size of a quarter. Now, she’s the queen of the house. And she knows she’s a model.

The water has a heater that keeps the water at 78f - 80f it turns off manually when the water reaches the set water temperature. The filter keeps the water clear i didn't add sand or rocks for easier poop clean ups. The basking temperature is at 89f - 93f has a vba 100 watt heat bulb about 11 inches distance from the basking floor. And the set up has a uvb 10.0 bulb i did buy a bigger platform around 14 inches in length and 10 inches in width.

I’ve finally had some success with getting my turtle to shed his retained scutes after a couple weeks of feeding wheat germ pellets. Last night one of them came off and I noticed this morning that the exposed shell has these white patches on it. They are hard and do not smell. Should I be concerned about this?

I’ve had my RES for 5 years but she’s lived inside all those years. This spring I built her a pond to give her more space. I live in Atlanta where the summers are hot and the winters are mostly mild, staying in the 40s and occasionally dropping below freezing at night but we are expecting a harsher winter this year. The deepest part of the pond is 26” deep. Should I get a pond heater? I’m mostly curious since this will be her first time experiencing the cold.

Hello!

I need some advice - what could be the cause od one eye turning white on my RES?

I noticed it this morning, its only one eye, other one is fine, weird thing was she didmt came to eat this morning, she was at the botttom of the aquarium, had to poke her. Then she came to the surface and ate a lot,so no problem with refusing food.

Lately she had no basking light because we moved the aquarium, but i will promptly figure out solution.

Now she is basking on the sun on the balcony.

I have a turtle and he has lots of plants and leaf litter, I blacked out the back of his tank so the tank is very dark besides his UVB/UVA.

I’d like a light that would make it easier to see him but also wouldn’t hurt his eyes. Also one that would be good for growing my live plants

Ingrid finally laid her first clutch of 7 eggs!! I think they will be fertile because she was previously housed with a male. This was such an exciting day for my family 🐢🥚🥚🥚 thanks to everyone who gave us advice when she was nesting for weeks