Here are a few more pics. We don't care. It would just be nice to know if we need to do anything special like provide a nest box etc.
We are in the upper midwest so we have a UVB. I just replaced it. We also have a basking light/area that is not used. He likes to play under the dock area but only chooses to come out on the side/dock where there is no basking light. The temps under the basking area are 85*. The water is 76*-77*F. Ambient air is about 68-72*F during the winter. We have really hard water and up until a month ago had the water temp too warm so he got mineral deposits and shed flakes stuck. We had the water at 78*-79*F and he was docked a lot I think to get out of the water because it was too warm. The basking light it the repti tuff 50 and the IVB is the 5.0. He is in a 55 gallon filled up about 1/3. We changed his diet to the Omega One adult turtle floating food on advice here...he was getting the ReptoMin adult floating Sticks. He splashes a lot to get our attention to feed him and the splashes have gone high enough in the past to shatter a bulb that was 12"-15" above the basking area. I hope the repti tuff is indeed tougher.
Thank youuuu!!! Yes, we all love her/him. My oldest moved out and still comes over to hang out with Max and texts to check in on how everything is going.
I appreciate your input! We came here for help with the set up when we saw the carapace shell issues. We adore him/her. Thank you for the food ideas! I'll grab those as well for some variety. Right?! I've never put him on his back like that I felt so bad… But he was poised like that and then all of a sudden flipped over and started walking away like she was done with the photo shoot - it was hysterical and impressive 🥰
So helpful thank you!!! I cannot imagine everything you went through with your pond. I am so sorry for all of your loss. 😢 Where we live the building owner treats the grass so we have never let him run around. We also have wickedly fast birds of prey that hang out in our trees. We have brought him out in a huge cardbord box to soak up the sun and move his legs. I was thinking a kiddie pool without the water would maybe be an idea to try this year.
A kiddie pool works well, and if you put up something that LOOKS like it covers the pool the birds will stay away. Example: some people run wire zig zagged across a garden area to trick the birds from getting to the garden. They're scared of the wires.
But why not actually put chicken wire over it to protect your turtle? Why take a chance?
Of course this is best but it becomes sorta a hassle to remove and replace all the time. Another option is to make 4 legs that support chicken wire or bird netting over the kiddie pool, so you just slide it under the netting.
