#speedy turtle

[fbwzoo]

Got a fluval fx6 canister filter for $140 from marketplace!!! Guy used it for a year, then in storage for 2 years. He sent a video showing it working, so while I don't know much about these things, I went with it. They're $370 new & one of the more recommended ones for a turtle tank!

I gotta buy new media for it & give it a good cleaning, then play around with it to learn how it works and all. I think we may still end up needing a second filter tbh, but this should get us started anyway! They're rated for up to 400g, and turtles need 3-4x what the tank size is. So technically we should have at least 450g worth of filter power. But this should give me time to keep looking for good deals or see if anything goes down for Black Friday or something.

[fbwzoo]

Looking back at that picture of Speedy and having read more on shell health, I.... am reminded why I was avoiding reading more about shell issues right now. I have a very bad feeling about his shell condition.

[fbwzoo]

It's so biiiiiiig!!!

And I spent the afternoon planning out a nice long basking platform to wrap from the left end all the way behind it like a nice porch, so I'm very excited.

Also bc I found a picture I took some time ago to show a friend, this is what he's currently in. :(

I cannot WAIT to see him in a proper pond with space to move.

[fbwzoo]

Stock taaaaaaank!!!! Second most expensive part of the boy's set up purchased! $180 new, but found at a surplus store for $135 for a 150g! I'm very excited and can't wait to clear the storage room so we can get it down there.

So far I've spent $320 towards setting up for him, with the canister filter, tank, and an LED light. We've got at least $360 still to get for water heater, Python water change system, RV water filter, a tote for the canister filter, a screen door for the room entrance, basking lamp & UVB light, and water leak alarm system. I already have a water testing kit for the crabs, at least.

That doesn't include supplies to build the basking dock (not sure cost yet), rocks & driftwood for the pond, and some live plants. Thinking to set the pool up when we can to get some plants going to see if they last a little bit at least. I figure in a bit we'll set up another small pool to grow aquatic plants for destruction/eating enrichment, but that's a later cost.

[fbwzoo]

Brain has gone back on the Turtle Bullshit. Grabbed a few more things off the supplies list since they were on sale. Still need water heater, RV filter, UVB light & fixture, basking bulbs, and supplies to set up basking platform. Also ideally a GFCI plug in or outlet to use for the water heater to plug in to.

I spent my work break (& then some, shhh) sketching the basking platform set up to work out how much supplies & cost -

Depending on when the in laws finally give in & what's going on at the time, I'll settle for doing just the basking section as the immediate essential thing. The whole wrap around "porch" is an eventual plan after the initial scramble to settle things & get used to turtle care.

Of course, all this is also assuming that he lives long enough for us to take him, the vet doesn't suggest euthanasia right away, and after he presumably spends some time dry docked for his shell recovery. The poor man hasn't had a proper basking platform in a very long time, if ever.

[fbwzoo]

I meant to do other things after work today 🤔 Now I'm watching the "pimp my filter" video for the fx6 and taking notes so I can order media for it. I just took out the old stuff the guy had in it, gotta take it out back to clean out, maybe tomorrow.

[fbwzoo]

that picture of speedy is genuinely so heartbreaking :( i'm so glad he's coming to you. i hope he gets to live a real life with you for a long time <3 do you have a vet nearby that's qualified for turtles? (sorry if you've spoken about this already and i've missed it!)

I don't think I have yet, so no worries! We live in a city, so we have a multitude of exotic vets in the area, thankfully! I think we'll probably take him to one of the better ones we've used before, they have pretty extensive reptile experience. I'm definitely anxious to get the boy into our hands and to the vet so we can see what we're dealing with.