Big Snapping Turtle, big tank....Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the water from smelling so bad? We've been cleaning the filter and completey changing charcoal and water every 3 days and still have an odor problem. It sort of smells like Sulphur, or a corpse! We have taken the water in to the petstore to be analyzed and bought the huge filter they recommended.....Any help will be appreciated.
Snapping Turtle Tank Stinks!
- Thread starter Vampire
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In my experience it kinda goes with the territory, they are stinky dudes.
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well, I use "NovaAqua plus" water conditioner for my siren, frogs, turtles and fish. I don't have snappers at the moment but maybe that would help.:?
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Meat eating aquatic animals are especially messy because of the ammonia that builds up in the water from their waste. I've been using this "biozyme" stuff and it seems to be working really well for my salamanders and siren. I only have to do a 1/4 water change every week or so as long as I keep the filter clean.
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I use nova aqua mainly as a de-chlorinator but I might start using biozyme as well. How long have you been using it?
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With all large messy aquatics, its recommended you get a filter that is at least twice as large/powerfull as whats recommended for the tank gallonage.
So if something is for up to 40gals, and you have a 40gal, get two filters.
Also there are a number of Turtle Conditioners that are meant to take away the oder from the water chemically.
I'd do a 50% water change every week, thats my schedule for all my trutles, though non of them are snappers. Hope this helps, good luck. ~ Rex
So if something is for up to 40gals, and you have a 40gal, get two filters.
Also there are a number of Turtle Conditioners that are meant to take away the oder from the water chemically.
I'd do a 50% water change every week, thats my schedule for all my trutles, though non of them are snappers. Hope this helps, good luck. ~ Rex
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Its important to remember that just doing a water change really wont help that much. Make sure you are vaccuming the gravel with a syphon. Most waste and uneaten food sinks to the bottom of the tank and lodges in the substrate. This waste then rots releasing harmful chemicals into the tank.
Also when servicing the filter do not replace any foam media, simply wash it out with water from the tank. Foam media builds up beneficial bacteria on it that helps eat waste in the water. This bacteria also builds up in the gravel, which is why one should never service their filter and vaccum their gravel in the same week as it will remove all the bacteria. You can purchase this bacteria at fish stores (Stress Zyme is recommended or Bacter Plus if you can find it).
The goal is to have enough bacteria in the tank system that it can keep up with eating the waste chemical (Nitrite mainly) and eliminate the smell. Do some reading on fish tanks and Balancing a tank also known as Cycling.
You might consider building a large wet/dry filter with a sump for your messy little beast.
I am very jealous as Snappers are by far my favorite turtle, but I just dont have the room for one right now! Please post pics!!
Enjoy im!
Also when servicing the filter do not replace any foam media, simply wash it out with water from the tank. Foam media builds up beneficial bacteria on it that helps eat waste in the water. This bacteria also builds up in the gravel, which is why one should never service their filter and vaccum their gravel in the same week as it will remove all the bacteria. You can purchase this bacteria at fish stores (Stress Zyme is recommended or Bacter Plus if you can find it).
The goal is to have enough bacteria in the tank system that it can keep up with eating the waste chemical (Nitrite mainly) and eliminate the smell. Do some reading on fish tanks and Balancing a tank also known as Cycling.
You might consider building a large wet/dry filter with a sump for your messy little beast.
I am very jealous as Snappers are by far my favorite turtle, but I just dont have the room for one right now! Please post pics!!
Enjoy im!
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The thing about buying bacteria for cycling, though, is that you absolutely cannot buy anything that's not being kept refrigerated. Any brands kept on the shelf are worthless because all the bacteria are dead - we had a guy lose a full tank of fish in the last few months because, among other things, the pet shop sold him dead bacteria and told him his tank was good to go.
Biospira is one a lot of fish people swear by.
Biospira is one a lot of fish people swear by.
We are using the syphon and vacuuming the bottom of the tank when we clean. Whatever we do it's not enough, It's very frustrating. I am going to try the Biozyme and another one called turtle clean....they both sound the same.??....I'm at work right now, but will get some pix up soon.....thanks for all your help, everyone! I was at the end of my rope!
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Also how big is this turtle, and how big is the tank? Turtles need a LOT of water, way more than you'd generally think an animal of their size would need.
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That may not be big enough - a few sleepy minutes on Google looks like the general rule people are using with snappers is ten gallons for every inch of turtle.
http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_tank_aquarium.html says an adult would need like 100 gallons.
If this is the case, it would also explain why the tank is getting fouled so quickly.
http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_tank_aquarium.html says an adult would need like 100 gallons.
If this is the case, it would also explain why the tank is getting fouled so quickly.
Woa! Yea much too small of a tank! Look into getting a bigger one and maybe even adding on a sump.
The Turtle Clean and Biozyme are the same thing really.
Interesting thought there Mushroom. I have been using Bacter Plus and Stress Zyme (both non refrigerated on the shelf bacteria) for 10 plus years with hundreds of customers and on my own tanks as well to great success. I have never had a problem. As long as they are shaken well and not past the expired by date. Could it be possible your customer failed to shake the bacteria up or perhaps the store sold him expired product. I am curious to hear more.
The Turtle Clean and Biozyme are the same thing really.
Interesting thought there Mushroom. I have been using Bacter Plus and Stress Zyme (both non refrigerated on the shelf bacteria) for 10 plus years with hundreds of customers and on my own tanks as well to great success. I have never had a problem. As long as they are shaken well and not past the expired by date. Could it be possible your customer failed to shake the bacteria up or perhaps the store sold him expired product. I am curious to hear more.
Wow, this brings back some memories! I had similar difficulties a *long* time a go when I had caymans and snappers in aquariums. I changed to setups made of plywood in the shape of a large, low box on short legs. There was a square hole cut into the middle to fit a basin full of water and a foot or 2 around the edges made up of the bottom of the wooden box for basking and drying out. It was very easy to lift out the basin after feeding to change the water after shooing the critter up onto the basking part and blocking it off with whatever is handy. It wasn't bad looking, not really for display but it sure beat walking into the room and vomiting from the smell (yeah, it really can get that bad on a hot day). You can also cut down a lot on the bacteria by feeding the turtle in a separate container that is easily washed. They are truly messy eaters.
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I've been using Biozyme for about 2 years.
Also, you could use a syphon to get out poops when you see em. I got a cool battery powered one from Petco. Makes cleaning the tank a lot easier!
Also, you could use a syphon to get out poops when you see em. I got a cool battery powered one from Petco. Makes cleaning the tank a lot easier!
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Yea you are going to need a huge tank I am assuming this is an indoor turtle. How friendly is it? I keep mine free in the house its about 3 1/2 feet in diameter short ways across the shell. Also is it a standard snapper or an alligator snapper. You can get away with a small plastic pool inset of a wooden box with ramps to get in and out but mine is really friendly ive had it since it was a soft shell and its never tried to bite me ..............Also what are you feeding it?