wanted a turtle for my wife birthday

[scott from essex]

hi people am looking for a turtle for my wifes birthday i have built the viv and and put it away so she can not find it the turtle must be local to me as i live in pitsea essex

plz help me cheers

[linda.t]

turtle or tortoise as nether should live in a viv.

[SisterMoonbeam]

What species are you after and what size tank do you have?

[Graham]

Very few species of turtles are suitable for keeping in a vivarium, an aquarium or pond is what you need as most species are highly aquatic. Do you have any idea what species you want, and have you read up on their care?

[scott from essex]

hi am sorry for the confusen my wife has been doing alot off reading and asking alot off questions too the viv i have built is 4ft long x 2 1/2ft wide x 16''high with plants in and a some water but it this way it landscraped it looks the nuts. Her friend has i think it called a redbelly which she likes see am trying to get her one with out having too ask her to help me as it a surprize. See i've got a common snapping turtle which is in a 6ftx2ftx2ft tank.I would go to my local reptile shop which told me that i need to build some thing thats got heat and a uv light which is wot i have done so plzzzz am asking for help without asking my wife

[blazingtortoise]

I'm confused - where is the turtle going to swim? You obvioulsy know about aqutic turtles if you have a snapper. Is it a tank or a viv you have made? Basking turtles need a good area of water to swim in as well as a landing area with the extra heat and UV.

You could be sneaky and leave a 'tortoises and turtles of the world' book out and see if she identifies what she wants without asking directly.

Once you know what it is she is after, have a good read up on whatever it is!

[Graham]

I'm confused too! It will need a lot more than "some" water, Red Bellies are highly aquatic turtles just like your Snapper, they need lots of water to swim in and a basking spot with heat and UVB lamps, the tank also needs to be completely open-topped for maximum ventilation, a vivarium will be far too humid.

[scott from essex]

wot would be the best for a first time pet i need advise

[blazingtortoise]

Originally Posted by scott from essex

wot would be the best for a first time pet i need advise

you will have to tell us the details of your set up and what you might want to keep. if you don't know - we can send you to sites that will help you decide. Its all about space - volume & filtration (for aquatic turts) and/or surface area and feeding for tortoises. That is putting it very basically.

By the way - keep asking - everyone here is about what is best for the pet (and keeper)

[scott from essex]

Hi mate the set up i have built is as follows 4ft long x 2 1/2ft wide x 16''high i called it a viv but it not as it is open at the top and i go a bit coverd in with a big door as a little den i put some green plants in there tooand i have brought a uv strip light and a heat set up too only on advies off my local reptile shop. It looks quite nice i been going on this site for about 3 months looking at wot other people but i have more in 3 days am looking for a Tortoises and my set up is called a Tortoise table if am wrong plzz tell me am here to learn