Here is my inspiration: http://www.youtube.com/user/BauriBob#p/u/10/dYB_ftul1CI
He has a lot of other great videos as well.

I can't wait to get my 55g set up how I want it to be before I put him back in there. I have decided to upgrade to a canister filter - Cascade 1000: http://www.amazon.com/Canister-Aquar...9436988&sr=8-1

I have heard very good reviews from this filter and then I asked my pet shop owner family friend and he even recommended it. So I will replaced my power filters and internals with this. And just in case, I have decided against the UG filter and will only use this, with A LOT more plants. The rule is 10g per inch of shell at minimum, even with that I think he will soon get a 125 up from his current 55...but we shall see.

Here is the next basking platform I am getting....http://www.amazon.com/Reptology%C2%A...9437163&sr=8-1

I have the docks like you two have and a suction cup one as well, but something about this one I really like.

Do you feed yours goldfish or anything else? I have to admit, when my RES was about 8'' or so, he was introduced to a few new foods like hot dog chunks and etc. He loved it and was an eating machine.





.....Side note as far as keeping pets.
I agree with you Nfp. I think you should duplicate the natural environment as much as you can, but even then it is still not truly as good as their real habitat and never will be. As much as I love them as pets, I also think that I am doing something wrong by having anything like this in captivity. But then in reality I personally and anyone else I could convince could never stop the world pet trade and it is much better to have passionate and caring owners out there than abusive/destructive..etc. Kinda of like the saying, if you can't beat them join them. On that note all I can hope to do is spread awareness and hope it teaches others how to truly care for their pets especially exotics.

..For instance with tortoises, I would not buy one from a pet store for many reasons; but then again, would buying one from the pet store in the end provide it a better life then what is destined for it if it does not sell and is subject to shelf life? It is almost a non-winning situation either way you look at it and is far more complexed and non linear than what we all can initially see on the surface. What I can tell myself, is that there is a GREAT probability that I am providing my map turtle a better life than what he may have experienced elsewhere. I could and I am sure we all could, go on for days about this issue, but as long as we are providing great care we will always surpass the life the animal could have been subject to elsewhere.

...I am sorry to hear about your matamata, such a great creature and I truly enjoyed your video of it eating. Some possible relief, we would never know how long its life would have been in the wild with all the natural predators present that were not in your tank.