Urgent Care :: Fred nibbling on basking platform

[yanet]

His name is Fred
How big is your turtle? about 3-4 inches
How long have you had it? a year

What is the water temperature? 78
Did you use a thermometer? yes
Are you using a water heater? yes, on high
How much water is in there? about 6 inches
Are you using a water conditioner? no
Are you using any filtration? yes

What is the basking temperature? ???
Is there a basking light? yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? yes
What kind is it or what is it made out of? i dont know it suctions onto the side of the tank and is made of a lightweight material that floats
Is there a UVB light? yes

What have you been trying to feed it? i feed him a mix of everything, beefheart, veggies, and pellets of shrimp, krill, and fruit
When was the last time your turtle ate? today

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 20 gal
Is the tank near a window? yes but doesnt get any direct sun
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? in our dinning room

Have you read the Basic Care section? yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms? just that i noticed that he is nibbling on his basking platform i dont think he has actually eaten a lot because all the broken pieces from it are floating on the top of the water. i thought that i might not have been feeding him enough but from the care instructions im actually feeding him more than i should. hes managed to make one whole corner rounded out! is he bored? any ideas?

[steve]

Some have speculated that the turtle is searching for calcium. I'm not too sure about that, but you can try some cuttlebone.

You can find it in the bird section at a pet store. Remove the hard backing and put small pieces in your tank for your turtle to eat.

I'd also look into a different basking dock.

[Sgt. Pepper]

My turtle was trying to eat her rocks for a while and when I gave her cuttlebone she completely stopped. I'd try that. It's only a dollar or two so you won't be out much if that's not what it is. Also don't worry if they don't go after it right away. Mine prefers it soggy so it just depends on the turtle.

I'd also make sure you're not feeding too much beef heart as that's a lot of protein.

[Take-One]

Mine do it too. That tank is TOO small. you need at least a 60 gallon

[yanet]

Thankyou all for your replies i will try the cuttlebone. thanks