Of course, this is just the temporary enclosure for the gator, but I thought I would share. It is a 150 gallon Rubbermade Stock Tank (not that easy to find).
It basically just had a drain on it. So I headed to Home Depot to harass the employees until they gave me a solution for hooking a hose for drainage. (I am the only one I know that electrocuted myself doing plumbing to the point of going to the E.R.).
And in a rare moment of foresight, I added casters. You can see that I also elected to have a flat hose handy for filling and draining (otherwise I would leave it outside)
I also am using an external 5 level canister filtration system rated for 200 gallons. Since the water level is low at the moment since it is a temp enclosure, this will do. Once the final enclosure is finished, I am adding another of the same model.
For the land area, I have a flat, long piece of Cypress driftwood balanced on the lip. To secure it, a length of PVC is screwed to the bottom and a hollow log mounted over that. There is also a driftwood stump (on the right, can't see it well) that is mostly submerged and acts as a ramp to the basking area. I have double lamps for heat and UVB. They are situated on an old 30 gallon screen top screwed to the top of the stock tank.
The water is a little dark due to the tannin in the water coming from the cypress wood. May be a good thing actually since it more closely matches the water composition of the swamps in the Okefenokee. Gators can jump forward, but not up very well, so it is secure without a top. Plus, there is nothing for her to grab on to. I have a 400 watt water heater with a built in thermostat, but I elected not to install it right now. The water stays at about 75 degrees. I have jumped in the Okefenokee before, and that water cannot be more than 65 degrees. So I think that the water temps are about perfect.
Of course, anyone who knows me knows that I abide by my dad's philosophy of "there is no doing like overdoing". Soon I am expanding the enclosure so that the entire 150 gallon tank will be just the pond. I am building a new enclosed land area that will attach to the pond. No more details, you will have to wait and see it.
