WATER TURTLE WATER PROBLEMS

Recently I had been noticing some water on the floor of the indoor Turtle Compound -- as opposed to the OUTDOOR Turtle Compound -- which, of course, led to much concern on my part.

While hoping H2O on the floor was the result of a LARGE turtle flinging itself off the dry area platform into the H2O of the cattle tank they call home & creating spillage, the reality was turning out to be a leak in one of the tanks.

Any major activity within the compound during the colder Winter months has to be coordinated with the exterior weather conditions, if the large entrance door needs to be open for any length of time. Sort of compounding the compound problems.

Well, Mother Nature complied & provided me with several days of moderate weather to remove & replace the offending cattle tank before I ended up with two hundred gallons of H2O flooding the area.

The first part of the project was draining & removing TWO tanks, since the leaking pond was aligned between two larger tanks in the compound. Thus I had to pump out approximately 500 gallons of H2O, as well as moving the occupants of the two ponds -- above -- to other tanks, effecting severely over-crowded conditions.

The larger pond, once drained & removed -- naturally -- had to be inspected & "approved" before it could be returned indoors. I have a team on site which provides that support.

One of the positives of this effort was that the leaking tank was a six foot tank & the "replacement" tank -- which I had as a spare in the OUTDOOR enclosure -- was a eight foot cattle tank, the same size as the other two already in the compound. Thus, I added an additional 100 gallons of H2O to the swimmimg area.

Once I had the two eight foot tanks in position, I then had to place concrete blocks under them, as the blocks provide support & to allow warmth to circulate under the tanks to help warm the H2O in them.

Once everything was in place, it was time to connect the hose & start the process of filling the two cattle tanks with a total of 600 gallons of H2O.

Almost there. The ponds are full & the platforms are in place. These wooden structures provide an area for the turtles to dry off , as well as absorb the warmth & Ultra Violet light emanating from the light fixtures suspended above them.

Ready for the occupants. The fluorescent lights -- which also provide UV, as well as light -- are installed & the filters [green tubing] hooked up & running. Once the H2O temperature is satisfactory, the turtles will be returned to their -- uncrowded -- homes.

Another view, just before the turtles were returned.

The above photo is the end result; the offending/leaking tank has been remove, the new pond inserted & all the H2O & accessories set up & working.

And "Yes" ... the turtles ARE in the ponds, but not in view when the photo was taken. They are shy ... as well as I am a lousy photographer.