New indoor enclosure

[Sanchez]

I happen to score this 40 gal tank for a steal of a price. So it will make the winter home for my Florida box turtle. I plan to add something to block the glass and maybe another plant or two. Any other suggestions for things to add?

 

[leigti]

Looks good. I think you're right, block off the sides just to make it more homey so the turtle can't see out. I would add a bunch more plants and maybe some areas of deeper substrate. In case your turtle wants to dig down a little bit.

 

[lismar79]

Agree on adding more plants. Even some leaf litter from your yard would help him hide.

 

[Sanchez]

Agree on adding more plants. Even some leaf litter from your yard would help him hide.

I was thinking about adding leaf litter. Do I need to decontaminate the leaves before adding them to the tank? If so, how?

 

[Angel Carrion]

Replace the red light with a ceramic heat emitter attached to a thermostat. Red lights (honestly any colored bulbs) are bad for turtles and torts. Cause confusion, possible eye problems, and can lead them to eating their substrate because the colored light makes it look like food, which can lead to impaction.

 

[Sanchez]

Replace the red light with a ceramic heat emitter attached to a thermostat. Red lights (honestly any colored bulbs) are bad for turtles and torts. Cause confusion, possible eye problems, and can lead them to eating their substrate because the colored light makes it look like food, which can lead to impaction.

Thats my plan once this bulb burns out.

 

[boxraddict]

Look awesome

 

[Angel Carrion]

Thats my plan once this bulb burns out.

I would strongly suggest changing it out now instead of waiting for it to die.

 

[Sanchez]

I would strongly suggest changing it out now instead of waiting for it to die.

Well I've only heard about the bad of red lights from other reptile keepers, via word of mouth/internet forum. The research I've done myself suggests that red bulbs are fine. Can you find credible source that these bulbs are bad? From my understanding it provides heat and non-visible infrared light. So if it is not providing visible light can it still cause eye problems?

 

[lismar79]

I was thinking about adding leaf litter. Do I need to decontaminate the leaves before adding them to the tank? If so, how?

I never did. I just checked for mold or bugs. I suppose you could put them in your oven on a tray set for warm to kill anything off. I make my own dried weed mix for winter feedings this way

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

Well I've only heard about the bad of red lights from other reptile keepers, via word of mouth/internet forum. The research I've done myself suggests that red bulbs are fine. Can you find credible source that these bulbs are bad? From my understanding it provides heat and non-visible infrared light. So if it is not providing visible light can it still cause eye problems?

Can you see the red light? If you can't see any light but only feel heat, then you are correct, it's only making non-visible light. But if it is emitting red light, then it is emitting visible light.

The concern with red lights - or any visible light - at night, is the potential to disrupt the animal's circadian rhythm. Standardized photoperiods are essential for the triggering of hormone release and production in most living creatures. There isn't as extensive of a body of research on photoperiodism and circadian rhythms in tortoises as there are in other animals (although there is some), but it's worth looking it up if you're curious why people here are advising not to use coloured night lights.

 

[Sanchez]

Can you see the red light? If you can't see any light but only feel heat, then you are correct, it's only making non-visible light. But if it is emitting red light, then it is emitting visible light.

The concern with red lights - or any visible light - at night, is the potential to disrupt the animal's circadian rhythm. Standardized photoperiods are essential for the triggering of hormone release and production in most living creatures. There isn't as extensive of a body of research on photoperiodism and circadian rhythms in tortoises as there are in other animals (although there is some), but it's worth looking it up if you're curious why people here are advising not to use coloured night lights.

According to the box the light came in, 90% of the wavelength emitted is invisible infrared light. The research I've done so far has turned up a few claims that turtles don't see red very well. So if only 10% of the light is visible, in a color turtles supposedly have a hard time seeing, I feel safe using it. If anyone disagrees can we continue the debate in another thread? I feel this one is going off on a tangent.

I added some moss and leaves to the tank, and covered most of the glass (pic included). I'm also going to try and start some forget-me-nots outside while the weather is still warm and move them into the tank

 

[leigti]

I can't tell from the picture, is the WhiteLight a mercury vapor bulb? If so, I would just use that during the day and turn it off at night. You don't need night heat. And get rid of the red bulb no matter what if the white bulb is a coil UVB bulb then get rid of it also, they can cause I issues. When I added leaves I just sprayed them off with the garden hose but I didn't decontaminate them in anyway. By Boxturtle lived outside with them I figured she could live inside with them also. I mostly just rinse them off to get any bugs off of them.

 

[Angel Carrion]

View attachment 147253
According to the box the light came in, 90% of the wavelength emitted is invisible infrared light. The research I've done so far has turned up a few claims that turtles don't see red very well. So if only 10% of the light is visible, in a color turtles supposedly have a hard time seeing, I feel safe using it. If anyone disagrees can we continue the debate in another thread? I feel this one is going off on a tangent.

I added some moss and leaves to the tank, and covered most of the glass (pic included). I'm also going to try and start some forget-me-nots outside while the weather is still warm and move them into the tank

Actually, they see red very well and are attracted to it. It's one reason that I use a bright red brick as my turtles food plate. Turtles can see the visible spectrum just as well as (and possibly better than) humans, plus see parts of the spectrum that is not visible to humans. UVB makes colors pop to them as well.

If you want to start another thread for this discussion, go ahead I'll keep an eye out.