Self-improvement indoor setup

I just want to update my turtles tank.  What I have done so far.. here some picture to show some improvement.  Before that, let me describe a bit what are the stuff that I used for my turtles tank and their basking area. Since I can't afford to buy my own tank/aquarium, I decided to use one large plastic container that is much more cheaper, easy to clean also to handle it.  The plastic container I'm using now is size 7 gallon. I know is too small for 3 turtles I'm having right now.  But I promise, this is just a temporary situation where I will buy their new home that is big, large and have wide swimming area. I'm targetting to buy 75 gallon tank (36L x 24W x 20H).

So here is the first setup I've made for the basking area is made from chicken wire that I cut and zip all angle make like a box. Then I spray it with pink color. Why pink? I love pink color, look sweets and feminine for my 3 turtles as they all females ;) hihi.. and for the platform, I used the green dishwasher but the soft one so that it won't scratch my turtles plastron or their legs. As for the basking ramp, I used soap dish which I turn it down and glue the green sponge. I also put some fake plants and flower at their basking area for more natural look and pretty. Here the pictures..

Kiki give a pose while I'm taking this picture.. so cute~! 

After some try and error of using the green sponge at the basking ramp, I don't think so using it is a good choice because when the sponge getting old its makes the water dirty where all the turtles stool or any leftover food will stick at it and the green thread and always stuck at my intake filter. Huh! So after doing some research in my best ever turtle forum in the net RedEarSlider.com so I found using plexiglass much more better as it can be bend and can cut at any size I want.  Here I have the plexiglass already bend for me (my brother help me bend it using the hot bend thingy), glass sealant and small river rocks.

Tadaa~! This is the result how the basking ramp looks like.  Since I'm lazy at that moment, I just line the glue as stairs for my turtles easy to go up at the basking area.  

But another problem rise up as the green sponge at the basking area doesn't last long, again a few chunks of it stuck in my intake filter.. how it happen? when my turtles goes up and down, they tend to pull it and hold the sponge until the sponge tear off, the pieces of it got stuck in my intake filter. The glue lines I made as a stair also didn't turn out so good where Kiki and Riri find it fun to bite it, pull it and chew it~! ho~! (see above picture) I was wondering, where is it gone? Oh my God, they eat the silicone glue~! Thank God, the glue didn't harm my turtles (I hope so?) because they pooped back as they can't digest it. Then I buy another piece of plexiglass then I make new basking area platform and glue all the surface with small river rocks and entire of basking ramp! 

My turtles are fast learner I think.. hihi.. because they already get used to the new improved basking area after 48 hours I setup the whole basking area.  Every steps or changes that I made at their basking ramp and platform, I make sure all the glue and rocks are firms and tight before I place them. I soak the whole stuff inside soap water for whole night to make all the glue smell gone and theres nothing chemical left on it.  Atleast the each step takes 2 days before putting it at the place.

I think thats all for now. I'll update more about my turtles tank in future. 

Presenting... Kiki and Riri

Previous post, I do introduce my new turtles, both are female and no name yet.  Today they've grown so much and almost 10months.. they will be 1 year old by 26 June 2009.  Here I present my Kiki and Riri~~!

Kiki and Riri - one month age

Currently, Riri is resting at basking area, Kiki just about to join Riri basking.

I'm BaCk~~ after depression of loss

Hello and welcome to my blog. Its been 8 months since the last post. I know its quite long never update anything about me, about my turtles and everything about my turtle world. So what happen to me? Where I've been? I LOST MY BELOVED TOTTO and TOTTI last year somewhere in October 2008. Until now I never find them. So that time, I felt so depressed and felt my life meaningless because of the lost really killing me inside. I've been taking care of my turtles for 2 years, provide them everything and anything that will make their life happy. But why Totto and Totti jump out from the pool together and ran away with leave me a note??! Why~! They should tell me where are they going so that I can visit them.. BUT?~!... huhuhu.. Maybe I sounds crazy but thats how I fell when lost something that I really love and care about. 

  Since the lost, I never took care of my 2 females turtles (hatchling 6 months) and the boxie, Yellow. I don't even see them, play with, give food or even care to change their water and clean up their tank. I'm lost! I just don't care anymore! I really missed Totto and Totti. I only want them! Sometimes I even had a dream at night that in my dream, Totto and Totti one day will come back again to me... But.. its just a dream. From November last year until February 2009, my dad who help me alot taking care my others turtles. Thanks Abah.

  NOW.. By end of February, I don't know what makes me wanted to breath again and I started to like my other turtles. I think because I see them in very poor condition with green water and algae started to grow on their shell and they not happy! I know, I make their life miserable for 5 6 month. So I wonder, why I have them if I don't care to them at first place? So, my journey begin here and I promise I will give all my turtles wants and build back the happy life be with my turtles.. So its me back again with my 2 turtles namely Kiki and Riri and boxie name Yellow~!