How to get rid of that turtle tank smell

[@kerismith3149]

Informative video - thank you!! 🐢

[@VladDImpala]

My turtle is over 20 years old, I've never encountered a strong smell in the tank. I feed my turtle in the tank. I then immediately siphon out the excess food and other debris with a turkey baster which I keep near the tank. As you mentioned, another way to keep tank clean, is to feed the turtle outside the tank, in a separate container with enough water so they can eat the food properly. It also helps to keep the tank very spare, don't put in too many decorations where excess food and poop can hide and/or attach to.

[@IsaacWiley]

yes so feeding and then getting rid of the excess food is always good turtle practice. however if you have more than one turtle in the tank then keeping little decoration and hiding spots is a bad idea as it can encourage aggression. what turtle species do you keep?

[@VladDImpala]

@@IsaacWiley I've never had more than one red eared slider turtle in a tank. Even with one turtle, I've always figured, any decorations would only add to more areas for any uneaten food debris and poop to cling on to. When my turtle was about 10, I had large pebbles on the floor of the tank, but I found the pebbles were also hiding the debris, so I took them out.

[@IsaacWiley]

Yeah with having only one turtle in the tank then bare bottom is easiest for cleaning and spotting waste. However some turtles can become stressed without a substrate and decorations to hide in, such as soft shell turtles. Out of interest what size is your turtle tank ?

[@VladDImpala]

​@@IsaacWiley The tank isn't very large, it's 75 gallons, but wide. It was a custom tank which the person who ordered it from the pet store, then didn't want, so I got a good deal. Since my turtle likely won't get any larger, I'm not sure if I have to get a bigger tank. I do find that having less decorations, my turtle can sleep under the basking area. The underwater filter does take up space, but it's not super large. I set up the filter lengthwise against one end of the tank. My turtle also enjoys sitting on the submerged filter. My turtle is about 10 inches long.

[@gushers500]

Thanks for this video! I used to have two red ear sliders, but one of them sadly passed away yesterday but I still have the other one This video will help me with him!

[@IsaacWiley]

Awesome would love to see a pic of your red ear, send to the insta 🤙

[@joeyandsajesouza4211]

You were trying so hard not to say “sh@t” and for that you get a follow 😂

[@IsaacWiley]

XD XD XD ;)

[@VladDImpala]

An aquatic turtles tank shouldn't smell, not if you have the correct filtration. There are so many filter options for aquatic turtle tanks. Personally, I use an underwater Fluval4, there is also an option to use a canister filter. This Fluval's design has changed over the years, but it's been very reliable. Unfortunately, canister filters might be a bit dangerous for small turtles, the turtle can pull off the protective piece at the end of the filter's suction tube and their head can get caught & well that's not safe at all, many turtles have died this way. I wouldn't recommend a canister filter for baby turtles and for small types of turtles, unless you can hide the tubing in an area where the turtle cannot 'play' with it. Aquatic turtles can be very curious and destructive. Hope this info helps.

[@IsaacWiley]

It all depends on what species of turtle as they can emit a musk when stressed, but also how often the turtle keepers doing water changes, should be at least 25% a week, that is what I personally recommend . I understand your concerns about canister filters , a smaller filter should be used for hatchling/ young baby turtles.

[@VladDImpala]

@@IsaacWiley I have a red eared slider, my turtle has never emitted any strong odors. Can't say I know much about other species. Of course, poop in the tank which isn't absorbed by the filter, will smell. In the Summer, I do notice the tank water seems to evaporate, because of that, over the Summer, I always add fresh water to the tank every few days. My reptile vet always stresses that a very good filter is the best way to avoid an aquatic turtle getting shell rot and other health disorders, such a respiratory problems and skin infections.

[@IsaacWiley]

Awesome , does your red ear have a name and where are you based ? Yeah so basically some other turtles can emit strong doors when they feel threatened and stressed , it’s a defence mechanism. Yes the filter always wants to be roughly 3x the volume in the tank to keep wanted good with a 25% water change weekly in my opinion if not more.

[@VladDImpala]

@@IsaacWiley I'm in the US. I'd rather not post my turtle's name online. lol

[@arjaymxr]

Great video but background music is kinda loud.

[@raychelcaliber4941]

Appreciate the knowledge! You're handsome by the way🤔

[@IsaacWiley]

I appreciate that, thankyou, let me know if you have any questions and I will try answer the best I can :)

[@gangtar77]

@@IsaacWiley Tap that bro

[@markzuckerburger1062]

@@gangtar77 hold on let him cook

[@jinpachichulo7561]

I have tank mates that eat the excess food and 3 plecos to eat the rest of the food missed by the fish. Also have 2 supercharged FX6s. Had a sponge filter too but spont got tore up by turtles. It's working out OK for me so far. Been a year and a half.

[@IsaacWiley]

That’s awesome! What species of turtle do you keep?

[@jinpachichulo7561]

@@IsaacWiley basic sliders that kids couldn't take care of because whoever sold them to the kids didn't tell them how much work it was.

[@patriciaburch6471]

The poo does smell bad. Mine is under control with my filter and I light a candle and clean tank daily with the net

[@IsaacWiley]

That is a very good shout ! 😊

[@truthfactreality6814]

You can do a 100% running water change with turtles.

[@IsaacWiley]

Is that a question or you want a video of me doing a 100% water change my friend?

[@truthfactreality6814]

@@IsaacWiley I’m good. I was just saying. Bacteria live on things like substrate etc

[@studbourbon798]

I use a Glade plug in air freshener.

[@IsaacWiley]

That is another way of doing it 😊

[@VladDImpala]

Stud Bourbon, Hope you are joking, because masking any odor coming from the tank, sure doesn't get to the bottom of *WHY* there is an odor in the first place. 😂

[@studbourbon798]

U feeding the snappers right and u gonna get a little oder. Liver day is nice and funky . Man up, turtles like the funk and I likes the turtles

[@tomparker6876]

I used to use the freshener for years and my little fella turned out great 👍

[@IsaacWiley]

Yeah exactly , I find it work well with them , it’s all down to personal preference. 😊

[@Rysdad1]

Literally all you need is duckweed. Then it sucks up so much waste you rarely ever have to do anything and water stays crystal clear

[@psychorpion5830]

Thanks I'll try that out :D

[@dianavalle5524]

I fed my turtles tuna. I cleaned the filter and changed the water and it stills smells. Do I need to change the media inside the filter?

[@IsaacWiley]

Personally I would do another few water changes with some reptisafe, then if its still there I would clean filter and make sure its that , that is still smelling and if so then its up to you :)

[@dianavalle5524]

@@IsaacWiley What exactly does reptisafe do?

[@IsaacWiley]

check this video out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3fRhqCafMajm5o

[@MrBizarro9000]

What's the size of your turtle tank?

[@IsaacWiley]

Currently the one with my Japanese pond turtles is a 4 ft tank.

[@Stallion-Koi]

Aving the same problem I've just rescued six recently

[@IsaacWiley]

That’s awesome , what have you rescued and how can I help ?

[@Stallion-Koi]

@@IsaacWiley four large yellow necks two musks I know lot of about the care of them. Just the smells getting ridiculous the four yellow necks are big. I think bowling them to feed all the times to much effort I am putting a dehumidifier in the room as making indoor pond for my koi fry

[@IsaacWiley]

That’s awesome! What size enclosure you got them in ?

[@Stallion-Koi]

@@IsaacWiley just over 3foot open tank if u look on my short will see. I don't have option to go larger only other options is doing outdoor but in summer but unheated in winters my biggest worry

[@IsaacWiley]

Ok I shall take a look. So no option to go larger tank or tub ? How do the turtles get on with each other?

[@soumyakantamaharana5463]

Can i use hang on filter for my red ear slider in 3 feet tank....plz reply

[@IsaacWiley]

The bigger the filter the better…

[@josem6914]

These tips are horrible