terrapin care

[Rosiee]

I am planning on getting 2-4 musk terrapins, i am also planning on getting a tank for them that has a fixed bay on the side or in the corner, does anyone no where i can buy them or order one from online, i live in england so would need somewhere that would devliever to there. If no perhaps anyone noes where i can get a rat tank what has those corner platforms attrached, and i could that set that up for them instead while they are small.

[labmad]

It's a 'turtle dock' i think you mean, so if you type that in on google or ebay you'll see what your after.

I think they are ok for smaller turtles like musks and babies but even when musks are adults, especially if more than 1 gets on then it may not hold the weight etc

I started off with a dock, but then swapped to using cork bark which i prefer, floats, is usually cheaper than docks and can usually get is most aquatic retailers

[nickthehotspark]

I keep Musk Turtles, I got mine from my local reptile shop. Nearly every Aquatic shop i've been in is selling them for around 20-25 pounds. They also sell special Turtle tanks made by Komodo( I think), you can by a water filter cover which is also a landing dock for them which fits in the corner of the tank. I have mine in a 40gallon tank with a Turtle dock but they hardly ever go on it!

[labmad]

Yeah, forgot to add they aren't avid baskers, like some other turts, so you wont see them on the docks etc as mush as some others, i guess thats why they are one of the turtles referred to as 'bottom walkers'

nickthehotspark - are you based near me, i am after some musks but canyt get em for love nor money - if you are can you let me know which shop you used so i can check it out please

phil

[Rosiee]

Thanks for the input. I was hoping for a tank with a glued on dock rather then a floating one but i will check out your suggestions

[angela__k__84]

The only way you will get that is to have a tank built for you - which can be quite expensive.
Try this site...
Welcome To BossAquariums
But for musks I think it's a lot of money to spend, considering they aren't avid baskers, you'd be better with a big piece of cork bark. It's easy to come across, looks natural and is cheap.
We got a huge 2ftx1ft piece from out LFS for £20. It's wedged into the corner of the tank now and looks really natural.

[Graham]

Yes corkbark is much better, a fiver will buy a decent size piece for a typical Musk size tank, just cut it to the width of the tank and wedge it in, you don't want anything glued in as it'll make tank cleaning difficult.

When they get bigger you'll need to provide a proper land area for nesting, in my bigger tank I siliconed in a divider and filled the end section with sand/soil mix.

Have you read any Musk caresheets yet? There's a lot of misinformation about them regarding water depth, basking etc..., this caresheet is written by people who have kept Musks and similar species for years though and know what they are talking about The Terrapin Tank - www.TerrapinTank.co.uk -

Here's a photo of my small Musk tank showing the cork basking platform, which was used extensively by my youngest when she was a hatchling...



And the bigger 4' tank for the adults, this was taken when I forst set it up and it's a bit more elaborate now and with different lighting, but you can see the land area at the end...



One of the adult females digging a nest in the sand area this week...



I would recommend you just get one or two for the moment and see how you get on, you can add more later, four is rather a lot to start with.

[Rosiee]

I thought 4 would be alot, so yeah i going to start with 2.



I have seen this tank/table the top comes off i am able to fit a uv lamp on it and a heater, it hold 200-240 litres of water, and i would not be using it as a table as well, i would only be uing it as a tank. Do you think it would be suffiecent?

I need replys asap befor owner sells it to some one else.

[Rosiee]

i am thinking about getting Cumberland sliders, or Hieroglyphic Cooters in this tank instead of musk.

[scots_pine]

Originally Posted by Rosiee

I thought 4 would be alot, so yeah i going to start with 2.



I have seen this tank/table the top comes off i am able to fit a uv lamp on it and a heater, it hold 200-240 litres of water, and i would not be using it as a table as well, i would only be uing it as a tank. Do you think it would be suffiecent?

I need replys asap befor owner sells it to some one else.

Sorry, I don't see how that is suitable at all. It doesn't look like it would give them much room to swim.

You'd be much better off with a standard tank.