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Spain, Madrid
1 Level
450 Review
0 Karma

Review on ๐Ÿข Tetra Aquatic Turtle Deluxe Kit 20 Gallons: Complete Aquarium Set with Filter and Heating Lamps (NV33230) - All-in-One Turtle Habitat by Wendy Owens

Revainrating 5 out of 5

Great starter kit. You have to buy a water heater, but almost everything else is available. Has both UVB and heat lamps.

This set is amazing! But you still need to buy an aquarium heater. It has almost everything besides that, and without it your turtle will end up getting very sick. I have one (Tetra 26445 Aquatic Reptile Heater, 100W) and it works fine for this tank. It has a plastic cover on it because some turtles try to break the aquarium heater glass. For tortoises, this 20-gallon size is fine while they're young, but as they get bigger, they'll need something bigger. This is actually a great kit for small turtles as everything that comes with the tank is designed so the water doesn't get too deep. The swim platform is a heavy, solid piece that sits directly on the bottom of the aquarium to keep it from floating. This is exactly what our turtle (red-eared slider) needed when she was little as the floating platforms were too difficult for her to climb on when she wanted to sunbathe. The platform in this set is like a bridge that the turtles can walk on without moving on them. The filter is really cool. It is designed to look like a giant rock with water cascading down from the top like a waterfall. It looks way better than the big black filters you tape to the aquarium wall. It's so quiet here. You don't even realize it's working. The water filter uses medium-sized carbon filters, which I could easily find at any Petco store I visited for supplies. The kit also includes plastic sheets, which our turtle really likes, but so that it does not float on the surface of the water. This set does NOT come with stones/gravel so you will need to purchase these yourself. For those new to turtles, DO NOT use regular fish gravel in your tank for your turtle. It's small and your turtles will eat it (I know I also ignored that warning when I first heard it and regretted it when our first little turtle got big enough to try to eat it ). They need a bigger rock that they can't put in their mouth. I have two bags of Exo Terra Turtle Pebbles, Large in this tank and they look great. It is enough that there is a thin layer of stone at the bottom. I also found that the stone here at Revain was $5 cheaper than what my local pet store charged per bag. So if you compare the store, you might find that it's cheaper to just order it online here. Each of the lights included in this set also comes with light bulbs. So you don't just get fittings. The lamps are packed separately from the lamps in small boxes so that they are not damaged during transport. You need two types of light as turtles need both a heat lamp and UV light. Without UV light, turtles suffer from diseases and need a heat lamp to stay warm and sunbathe under them when they come out of the water. It is therefore best to place the heat lamp at the top of the aquarium, directly above where you will place the heat platform. The lid is metal, not plastic. So the included lights sit right on top of it. The lid has a lockable design. So if you have pets trying to get in (or out of) the tank, the lid can be locked to prevent opening. It's a glass tank, not one of those. Acrylic. Good thing it doesn't scratch like acrylic. However, since it is glass, it becomes heavy when filled with water. This is a very well made all in one kit that includes everything you would buy separately at a pet store. Basically the only things you need to add are a turtle and a heater. With the possibility of adding a stone for decoration as well. This is a great start for young turtles!

Pros
  • COMPLETE AQUARIUM SET: Ideal for aquatic turtles, this 20-gallon aquarium kit comes with everything you need for success, including a decorative cartridge filter, swim platform, heat lamp, boxwood litter, and top mesh.
Cons
  • Weight