Nature Coast Exotics Inc. - How we keep them

This is how we set up the water land tubs.. We made it so you could open each side. We do racks of 5 at a time and we custom build the lids out of 2 x 2 Aluminum (normally used for pool enclosures) Its hard to see but on tub number 3 and 4 we have latches. By building a frame for the tubs to fit into and then the lids gives us a solid mount for a locking/latching device. We then use 1/2" x 1" welded wire for the screen. These tubs work great for small turtles and crocodilians.

Water side view...

This is the land side view.. On the tubs that we are breeding turtles in we found it a lot easier to use planters for the egg laying.. We use the 24" planters you can buy from Lowes. If you trim the edges with a razor knife they fit perfect and its a lot less area to look for eggs in!!

The tub to the left (with the lid closed) does not have a egg laying planter in it. The tubs come with a deep void to fill so if you filled it with just rocks it would take a bunch!! Another little tip is you can get styrofoam blocks and use a had saw to cut them to fit snug and only use a few inches or rocks to cover the styrofoam. If you have a tractor supply around you look out back they have stacks of styrofoam blocks that trailers come in on and if you ask they will give them to you for free!!!

ALMOST FORGOT!!! If you are going to set them up outside make sure you drill 25-30 holes using a drill bit size of 3/8" but not more than a 1/2". Then put 1 layer of rocks then the styrofoam cut the styrofoam block 1" smaller than the hole, center the styrofoam block then put more rocks around and at the same time on top of the styrofoam block. This allows for good drainage during rain storms and the big holes allow for some debris to get by.

We have had great success with these tubs!!!

This is how we keep a lot our smaller crocodilians until they reach a size that they can be moved into a pond.. Each tub is approximately 5' Long x 3' Wide x 20" tall. Each tub has a floor main drain and a overflow drain. Each tub also has 2 means of water supply. One is on a timer that goes on and off several times a day just to pump some fresh cool water into the tub. The other is a manual valve that lets you have water at every tub when ever you need it..

The houses you see on the right is Where we house a few different species of wood turtles. More house pictures to come..