Habitat - Indoor :: Help with my tank set up Please!!!

[ShellC104]

I have a red eared slider turtle and I have had him for probably about 4 months. I got him out of a big bowl full of baby turtles in China Town, Boston so I figured any home I gave him would be better than that one!
I have a 10 gallon tank and a basking rock, filter, all that good stuff. He never, ever goes on his basking rock though and he seems to only like shallow water, he always sticks his head up out of the water to breathe, and he freaks out if he goes in deeper water. So now I have it so there's only a few inches of water in the tank which he seems to like; is that okay? Or should I fill the tank up like half way or what? I'm afraid if I keep it that way he won't learn how to swim well! He also likes to stand on the ground when he eats too...I don't know what to do, someone help me with it please! His shell is only about 2 inches long, so he's not a very big boy yet.
Oh, and his name is Jeffery, he's so cute : )
Thank you for any advice anyone is willing to give me to help my little Jeffery!

[Into_the_Mystic]

He needs a basking light above the dock. Also, don't worry about him not being able to swim.. he's a aquatic turtle.. lol

Get a thermometer too and set it around 78.

[ShellC104]

Haha I know he just doesn't look like he likes it, but I suppose he'll get used to the deeper water.
He also already has a basking light, he still doesn't go up there and I don't know why. I just went a bought a new basking platform with a ramp for when I pit more water in it, maybe he'll go up there then, I hope!
Anymore helpful hints will be appreciated! Thank you!

[ljapa]

For basking, you want heat, UVB (turtles can partly see into the UVB spectrum), and a good temp difference between the water and the basking area.

Of you've had your water low in a 10 gallon and a heat lamp shining down on a rock, you may be heating the water enough that the turtle doesn't want to come out. Not drying off can lead to fungus on the shell and not getting UVB is bad for bone growth.

I say add the dock with the ramp and increase the water depth. That will make for a greater temp difference. Leave the basking rock submerged to offer a resting spot for shallower water.

Take some pellets. Place a few on the ramp and near the edge of the basking platform. Once they've disappeared, put some further toward the center of the platform. I bet once it is up there with the warmth and UVB, it will eventually decide to hang out.