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I got that basking area that everyone has; the floating brown one with the ramp that goes into the water...my turtle is now flailing his arms like he is on crack....

1. Why is he doing this?
2. Could it be that the dock is too jagged for him? It seems pretty rough, i didnt know if maybe he wants something smoother?

Thanks!

I really don't think it has anything to do with what you're using as a basking spot. Mine twitch and flail their 'arms' sometimes while they bask. It's normal.

Turtles like to do the superman pose when they are basking.

is the water around 75-80 degrees and the basking area 10 degrees warmer?

He's flailing his arms after he's been basking for a while? That just means he's getting warm. My RES does all sorts of contortions after he's been basking for a while and is becoming a little too warm. He usually goes back into the water (or dips his head in the water) to cool off when he's been doing it for a while.

My RES sits on the ramp facing the water and lowers her head close to the water so the waves generated by the filter ripple across her neck. She also sticks her butt up towards the heat lamp. I guess even her butt needs to get warm.

The basking area got gold on my turtles shell... i have no clue how to get it off and the toothbrush aint workin

If you've got the basking area most people seem to have, I don't think it's a gold color...Is the gold on the carapace and does it look like flecks/small dots?

1. THe gold is on the top of his shell, and also on the underneath. IT defintely isnt small dots, its like a 3 big squares (like he got painted).

Perhaps i got an imitation basking areaand it wasnt that one most people have.

Do turtle sleep more in the winter?

About the gold--are the areas about the same size and shape as the scutes? Can you post a pic (this isn't the same thing as the possible mineral deposits in your other post, is it?)?

It's not unusual for turtles to slow down somewhat in the winter (responding to their internal clocks). What's the water temp and basking area temp?

WEll the gold on the bottom is about the same size as a scute.....this isnt the same as the mineral deposits....on top, its like a line. The water temp is like 76...and the basking area is im not sure but prob warmer (since the UVA/UVB light is over it).

The gold might be speckeld after all....why what does that mean?

When a scute begins to get ready to shed, it starts to lift up slightly and air gets underneath. In the water this often looks metalic--a little goldish or silvery spots or speckles. Perhaps this is what you're seeing...