Since I received the gift of a new tank for my turtle (Thank you, Clara), cleverly named after the ninja turtle "Raphael", I've been wanting to revamp it. Well, less of a revamp as much as it is setting the tank up like it's suppose to be so he can, you know, not die. Which is very important.You see, this turtle is very important to me. Here's the story:
When I was 4 years old, my best friend was my neighbor. His name was Al. He would be 90 this year, if he were still alive (he passed away last year). Now, Al had a pretty big garden. And I had a pretty adventurous heart so I was always in his garden messing around when I wasn't suppose too. Which means I was always being yelled at... ah, not much has changed over the years... Anyway. One day I was playing in his garden when I saw him come out. I ran back to my yard and teased him about not wanting to be in his "stupid garden". He, of course, laughed and then went to pick up one of the toys I left in the dirt when his attention became split. He then picked up this little creature no bigger than the size of a quarter. It was a turtle. The idea we came up with, since we lived no where around a body of water and it was clearly a pond turtle, was he came back with Al one time he went fishing. He gave me this turtle and I've had it ever since.
That's a strong 16 years I've had this turtle, and he is certainly a trooper.
Did you know turtles need UV light to live? I just learned this last month... he has never had that light. BUT HE STILL FUCKING LIVED, SO SHUT IT!
Best part is my brothers were always so jealous of my pet turtle, they tried, unsuccessfully, over the years, to also have a pet turtle. Many-a turtles died for their jealously. ):
ANYWAY! Fast forward: Al is dead. Turtle is not. Wanting to make tank livable.
I finally bought some gravel, a little platform, a basking bulb, and some water treatment things shaped like cute little turtle babies.
Filling up the tank was a fucking disaster.
Yes, Bryan and Chris, there IS a reason why the floor is so clean right now.
But, after about an hour, it was finished.
And my little baby swam around so happily in all of his new space and freedom.
There's still a few more things I need to get: A water heater, a bigger filter, decorations (rocks and plants), and still more light, but, for now...this is good and he is happy.
Maybe I'll get him a girlfriend... ;)
