Expert: Josh Sean - 2/17/2009

Question
My room mate has a good sized turtle that stinks, even afetr a few days afetr cleaning. The tank is large and he even has two filters (one on each side of the tank). My theory is that he has cheap filters and needs a type of filter that lies on the bottom of the tank, I knwo someone who has this kind and two turtles and there is never any smell.

Please help, the smell is gross. Also if you could recommend a type and brand or at least point me in the direction I'd appreciate it.

Paul

Answer
Paul -

I used to house a single red-eared slider turtle in a 30-gallon tank for a few months until I completed the build and installation of one of my backyard ponds for him.  

Here are a few suggestions: use an extremely large tank if housing them in an aquarium (the larger the better - turtles need to run and swim about to remain healthy).  For the filter issue, I started out with the suggested turtle filter, which is an internal filter, and put 3 of them in my tank.  Eventually one went, then the other, but none really did very well of a job.  Then I bought a MAGNUM H.O.T. filter (hang-on-tank) that hangs on any side of the aquarium and filters up to 250 gallons an hour.  It is extremely helpful with the foulness of keeping a turtle in the tank.

You may also want to remove the turtle(s) to a separate feeding area to prevent decay of uneaten food from contaminating the water and tank.  Turtles also tend to defecate while eating, so that issue should be handled at the same time as feeding in the separate area.