[HOME] HOW TO CARE FOR AUSTRALIAN FRESHWATER TORTOISES
Page 6 INDOOR LIVING QUARTERS (continued)

Indoor Tanks: The Filter:
Tortoises make their water dirty quite quickly, and as it is a time-consuming job to clean an aquarium, it is wise to buy a filter and pump to keep the tank clean. Plastic filters are very cheap; pumps a little more expensive, but worth it, as you will find as your tortoises grow and eat more.
Don't buy an undergravel filter for tortoise tanks. Put marbles in the bottom of the filter to stop it floating. On top of these goes filter wool, then a layer of activated carbon (available from aquarium shops), then a thinner layer of filter, wool to keep the charcoal from floating, then a small space for dirt to collect.
Filters are now available which have "stabilizer platforms" attached to their bases. As well as making them heavier and better-balanced, this platform can be covered with gravel to anchor the filter to the floor of the tank. This eliminates the need for using marbles in the filter.

As the tortoises grow, it may be necessary to buy a motorised filter for their tank.   These efficient little machines, if cleaned once a week, do such a good job that you may only have to clean out the tank 3 or 4 times a year. Because the water level in a tortoise tank is low, you will require a fully immersible filter if you buy one. Motorised filters clean all the water in the tank every few hours, and circulate the water as well.
It is important to ensure that there is no uneaten food left rotting in the tank as this leads to the presence of bacteria in the water - an unhealthy situation.

Indoor Tanks: Water plants:
Keep water plants in the tanks with the tortoises because now and then they like to chew on them, they seem to help keep odours down, and tortoises like the shelter they afford. Tortoises seem to like a plant called "Water Sprite". It is impossible to keep the plants stuck in the gravel as the tortoises always scratch around and dig them up. Leave the plants floating in the water; they do well. If you want to decorate your tank use some plastic plants; they can look quite effective.
The activated carbon is highly efficient in removing odours from the tanks, and this is important with tortoises.

Indoor Tanks: The Heater:
Heat the water in the tank by using a. special heater from aquarium shops, which sticks to the inside of the tank and is thermostatically controlled. If you have a heater you must have a water thermometer too as the heaters don't show the temperature.   Heaters are important for another reason as you will see when you read about hibernation.   Keep the water temperature between 75oF and 85oF (24oC-29oC).   Heated water makes tortoises more lively; and if they are not warm enough the tropical ones can go into premature hibernation, which can cause problems.
You may wish to turn the heater off during Summer. In the latitude of Melbourne, Victoria, this should not be done before January 1st, when the warmer weather is presumably 'here to stay'. In more northerly latitudes, heaters may be turned off in December. Turn them on again in March.

Indoor Tanks: Covers:
Cover your tank with glass, to keep out dust and household pets. A cover also keeps in warm moist air, which tortoises like. Two corners of the cover must be cut off to allow filter tubes and beater cords into the tank. Don't leave sharp edges which may cut your hands.

Respite from the indoor tank:
Because tortoises need sunlight to keep them healthy, put the animals outside whenever convenient, in a shallow container with rocks and water and especially some shade where they can escape if they get too hot. Make sure they can't climb out, as they will always try to return to their natural wild homes.
MENU:
Tortoise Descriptions: PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3
Indoor Living Quarters: PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 8 PAGE 9
Outdoor Living Quarters: PAGE 10
Feeding: PAGE 11
Hibernation: PAGE 12
Ailments: PAGE 13
Behaviour and Intelligence: PAGE 14
How Old is the Tortoise? PAGE 14
Dangers: PAGE 15
Reproduction and Sexual Differences PAGE 15
References: PAGE 16