My combined musk turtle and tortoise table

[johnschmidt]

Id like to share some pics of my DIY project consisting of a tortoise table with a low aquarium on top to accommodate my small musk turtles.

Since I live in a small appartement, this solution fitted me well.
The lower tortoise table is a bit small for adult russian tortoises and its main purpose is to house a few hatchlings expected in a few months (hopefully).

Ive decorated the aquarium in a paludarium style with an elevated "river bank". The plants are not yet settled, but hopefully they will create a natural theme in the future.
Let me know what you think !

 

[kathyth]

That is beautiful!
If i was a musk, i would want to live there.
Very natural

 

[Julius25]

really nice !!! totaly looks like a part of nature.
Congrats

 

[BowandWalter]

You could sell those! Wholly cow, I could never make something that awesome!

 

[ShadowRancher]

That is really cool! I just showed it to my turtle and he's jealous ( so thanks for that, now he'll be demanding a new house )

 

[johnschmidt]

wow ,, that is so nice to hear! Thank you all

Here are some more photos

 

[BowandWalter]

All this jealousy is turning my eyes green...

 

[Carol S]

Very beautiful.

 

[leonardo the tmnt]

Awesome

 

[LuckysGirl007]

Very nice!

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

That's VERY nicely done...agree with BowandWalter, that you could sell those!

There's a local husband-and-wife team that sell aquariums/terrariums like that, mostly to doctor's and lawyer's offices, I think, for SERIOUS $$$...

 

[BowandWalter]

That's VERY nicely done...agree with BowandWalter, that you could sell those!

There's a local husband-and-wife team that sell aquariums/terrariums like that, mostly to doctor's and lawyer's offices, I think, for SERIOUS $$$...

I would buy one, but then I'd need to buy some turtles.

 

[Moozillion]

Oh, my- that looks WONDERFUL!!!

 

[l0velesly]

I love it.. it's unique!

 

[johnschmidt]

oh thank you all ! It´s a really simple construction, very simple to make. I planned to use some kind of drawer first, but i couldnt find any that had the proportions that i wanted, so i decided to just build a simple framework of square boards and strengthen the top to hold the weight of the aquarium. I used the google SketchUp software to make the blueprint and then I build it in my livingroom. I really like low aquariums with a view from the top. Plants always turn their best side towards the top

 

[mctlong]

Very pretty.

 

[johnschmidt]

Ive just completed a quick clip of the tank. The quality aint the best but its watchable imo


http://youtu.be/gu8SLqryWXI

 

[Thalatte]

I read your title and was very curious and outraged that you were putting a musk turtle with a tortoise...then I saw the pictures and am now outraged that its soo pretty and I don't have a mini marsh/island in my living room.
I don't suppose you could do a video on how you set up the aquarium part? I don't have water turtles anymore but mu toads would love something like that!
Or better yet wanna mail me one? Then I don't have to do the work!

 

[johnschmidt]

I read your title and was very curious and outraged that you were putting a musk turtle with a tortoise...then I saw the pictures and am now outraged that its soo pretty and I don't have a mini marsh/island in my living room.
I don't suppose you could do a video on how you set up the aquarium part? I don't have water turtles anymore but mu toads would love something like that!
Or better yet wanna mail me one? Then I don't have to do the work!

Haha ! ye,, i see what you mean,, id be too

The tank setup is quite simple. Unfortunately I dont have any photos of the process of building.

Even if im very satisfied with it, I must admit that I was very inspired by another setup a found some years ago.
This guy has made a paludarium that won a prize in the AGA aquascape contest and its just beautiful.

On his website he has a few detailed pictures of how he buildt it. Check it out ! http://zooistaba.id.lv/en

 

[Richsandwich]

That looks awesome I'm very jealous. Except for the fact my musk turtles would climb right out of that and run away they love climbing things there not suppose to