Score: Turtle 1, Me 0

[Moozillion]

Although I am content enough with the current set up for my juvenile mud turtle (Jacques), I have bigger plans. In another year or so when he's reached adult size, I plan to move him to a bigger tank that will be beautiful. It'll be more nicely landscaped and will have live plants in addition to the plastic ones. There will be ghost shrimp and a few fish. I'm hoping between lots of plants and a bigger tank, some of the shrimp and fish will be able to hide from him and survive. But even if he eats them, that's OK: they're all just bit players- the turtle is really the STAR of the tank.

I have been trying out different things in his current tank, but I don't think he shares my dreams. He typically digs up the plastic plants and moves them around, so that they are bunched together in a mess. At PetCo I recently found a plastic plant arranged like a mat and had a grid that could be pushed into the sand. I bought it, brought it home, rinsed it off and installed it, figuring he couldn't uproot it. The next morning, this is what I found:

But WHO could be mad at that face????

 

[Yvonne G]

Give him a cave and maybe he'll leave the plants alone.

Just think of it as helping the filter do its job. All that rooting around in the sand stirs up the gunk for the filter.

 

[Yvonne G]

Here's where my waiting-to-be-adopted RES baby hides all day long:

 

[Moozillion]

Give him a cave and maybe he'll leave the plants alone.

Just think of it as helping the filter do its job. All that rooting around in the sand stirs up the gunk for the filter.

He has a big acrylic log with lots of "shelves" on it, so he often hides in those. He also digs himself a nest in the sand under the shelter of the log. I guess he just likes to "garden!"

 

[wellington]

LOL. How cute is he though. I think he just likes to entertain you and keep you on your toes

 

[Lyn W]

I have been trying out different things in his current tank, but I don't think he shares my dreams. He typically digs up the plastic plants and moves them around, so that they are bunched together in a mess. At PetCo I recently found a plastic plant arranged like a mat and had a grid that could be pushed into the sand. I bought it, brought it home, rinsed it off and installed it, figuring he couldn't uproot it. The next morning, this is what I found: View attachment 161166

But WHO could be mad at that face????

View attachment 161166

He definitely looks guilty!!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

He definitely looks guilty!!

Yes. He does.

 

[Carol S]

He looks like he is smiling and saying "hey Mom look what I can do".

 

[Moozillion]

He looks like he is smiling and saying "hey Mom look what I can do".

YESSS!!!!

 

[kathyth]

He is a very busy little boy!!

 

[Moozillion]

He is a very busy little boy!!

He really is!
In the mornings I find little turtle footprints ALL OVER his tank! He prowls every inch!!!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

I've hot glued plastic plant bases onto the bottom of the tank before adding the sand and water. It worked at keeping them in place but I never tested it against digging turtles. Plus, it wasn't too long after that, I pooped them all off and went with live plants instead.

I've also weighted the plants with rocks. That helped keep them stationary in my turtle tanks.

Do you have good lighting? What if you put water hyacinth in the tank? It'll have pretty plants above the water and a floating root system below. That was on my "to try" list but I left CA before I could do it.

 

[Moozillion]

I've hot glued plastic plant bases onto the bottom of the tank before adding the sand and water. It worked at keeping them in place but I never tested it against digging turtles. Plus, it wasn't too long after that, I pooped them all off and went with live plants instead.

I've also weighted the plants with rocks. That helped keep them stationary in my turtle tanks.

Do you have good lighting? What if you put water hyacinth in the tank? It'll have pretty plants above the water and a floating root system below. That was on my "to try" list but I left CA before I could do it.

I have some plants tied to the big acrylic log with nylon fishing line. Those stay in place just fine.
My light is not great- I had some water wisteria in there and it died quickly. I also have a moss ball in there and it seems to be doing fine.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Try the little AMAZON sword plants.
They have runners that shoot out from the roots that make other whole amazon swords.
Buy one plant and wind up with dozens. They aren't too particular about lighting, either. And they grow substantial roots.

 

[Moozillion]

Try the little AMAZON sword plants.
They have runners that shoot out from the roots that make other whole amazon swords.
Buy one plant and wind up with dozens. They aren't too particular about lighting, either. And they grow substantial roots.

Thanks, Ed!!! I'll give it a try!!!

 

[Prairie Mom]

Although I am content enough with the current set up for my juvenile mud turtle (Jacques), I have bigger plans. In another year or so when he's reached adult size, I plan to move him to a bigger tank that will be beautiful. It'll be more nicely landscaped and will have live plants in addition to the plastic ones. There will be ghost shrimp and a few fish. I'm hoping between lots of plants and a bigger tank, some of the shrimp and fish will be able to hide from him and survive. But even if he eats them, that's OK: they're all just bit players- the turtle is really the STAR of the tank.

I have been trying out different things in his current tank, but I don't think he shares my dreams. He typically digs up the plastic plants and moves them around, so that they are bunched together in a mess. At PetCo I recently found a plastic plant arranged like a mat and had a grid that could be pushed into the sand. I bought it, brought it home, rinsed it off and installed it, figuring he couldn't uproot it. The next morning, this is what I found: View attachment 161166

But WHO could be mad at that face????

View attachment 161166

Ba ha ha ha ha!!! I LOVE JACQUES!!!!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Lovely, Mooz.
Jacques is a lovely little thing.

 

[PJay]

That's a busy turtle.