What should I put at the bottom of my red ear slider tank?

Question

My red ear sliders have been eating the small gravel at the bottom of there tank lately and I recently found out that this can cause death so I obviously want to remove it fast. So when I do, what is a good thing to put in instead? I've heard that you can have nothing at the bottom because it will make the tank easier to clean but then I heard that they need some type or rocks or something at the bottom. Is there something that is good for red ear sliders to have?
Please only answer this if you have experience.

Answer 1

They do not need anything. We add it for our own sense of style, or for live plants.

Many keepers use large pieces of flat slate, and some pros use sand (and then use pre-filters to keep it out of the filter system.)

I like slate, but sand is also small enough that the debris sits on top of the surface instead of working down into it to cause smells.

http://www.redearslider.com

Answer 2

I went out and got river rock from the lake near me. But if they are eating the small rocks anything you find the size of a fifty cent peice and up will work(no sandstone).

The rocks on the bottom will help debris settle between cleanings so when they are walking around they are not constantly stirring things. My filter is an undergravel so the rocks actually aid in the filtration.

Do some research about your turtles natural habitat. I like to make my tanks into a mini recreation of their real homes. People can live in a empty room with 4 walls and a window too, but most of us aren't to happy doing it.

PS: Make sure you boil any rocks or bake any wood you get to create your turtle new home with.

Use your imagination and have fun with it.

Answer 3

DO NOTPUT ANYTHING AT THE BOTTOM!!! gravel and other rocks or substrates harbor bacteria and since the turtles eat in the water they can get seriously sick and possibly more than lickly cause death and you say they ate the gravel, that can get caught up in their intestines and kill them(unless you are rich and a animal hospital with a repile specialist near).Just put a large rock with a basking spot(must be out of water) on it in the tank or go to the pet store and buy a rock with holes in it so the turtle can swim around in it ect.and again no gravel or any other substrates in the tank(a friend of mine owns a pet store and lost 10 turtles because they got sick from bacteria and the others ate the rocks and you know.......

Answer 4

you dont need anything but a filter and a basking pad
no rock no nothing the rocks are just to make it preatty.and
it does make it harder to clean.hope this helped hear is a care sheet.