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Okay, i have had my RES for two months, she is great. I keep her in a 29 gallon tank, and from what i read, the higher the water level the better, as long as she can't get out of course, and as long as she has a place to bask, which is covered, i have a floating dock which she is on a few times everyday.
Here is my concern, at first i had the water level where she would sleep in the corner on the bottom, and easily stretch her head for air. Now that i have raised the water level so she can swim around more, she has to get on her hind feet, and have her shell at more than a 45 degree angle with her neck all the way out to get air. no biggie, except now she just sleeps leaning against the edge of the glass at more than a 45 % angle so she just stretches her neck for air. My question is, is this too much effort for her to get air? I don't want her to drown, ann i want to raise the water level more, it is currently more than the length of her shell, front to back, so she can swim more, she is super active, but again, i am scared that she will drown in her sleep. Do i need to put something on the bottom for her to lay on to make it easier, or will she be fine the way it is, Please help!!!

Many turtles sleep totally immersed in water. Mine do
They can stay under water for up to 3 hours without coming up for air (while sleeping). There is a thread on this ... maybe this will help explain

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1578

Ditto what Carol said above. My turtle sleeps all over the place. Most of the time fully submerged in the water. The only time they would drown is if the water level is too low and they flip over and can't get back over, or they get stuck in something under water like a decoration that's too small for them to go all the way through. I wouldn't worry about too much water, but you might want to add some fake plants that she can rest in. I've heard of turtles sleeping that way too.

And welcome...