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Lately George has been acting so weird. She is sometimes startled by my presence, like she was when she first came home 5 months ago. She just seemed generally agitated and skittish. I open up her tank lid to let some air in (rested it atop the tank, perpendicular), moved her basking spot so it's still beneath the lights (I don't know if they are UVB; they came with the tank), and raised the water level. She seemed to like that. Was she not getting enough oxygen?? She's so ready for a larger than 10 gallon tank -- already!

Do the lights have some kind of brand name/label on them? That would help you to ascertain whether or not they produce UV. As for your oxygen question, is your lid screened or "closed" (i.e., a sheet of acrylic)? Turtles just stick their heads out of the water to breathe air, so unless your top was completely closed off I doubt George was out of oxygen. Plus, if that were the case, then she wouldn't be acting better after you raised the water level.

Jeremiah wrote:Do the lights have some kind of brand name/label on them? That would help you to ascertain whether or not they produce UV.

I haven't forgotten this. I will check!

As for your oxygen question, is your lid screened or "closed" (i.e., a sheet of acrylic)? Turtles just stick their heads out of the water to breathe air, so unless your top was completely closed off I doubt George was out of oxygen.

It's a plastic lid with a door which I keep open. If I'm home, I take the lid off, but of course, that causes the water temperature to drop, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Plus, if that were the case, then she wouldn't be acting better after you raised the water level.

She's a big show off. A strong swimmer. There's two filters running in her tank, so there are multiple currents. She loves me to watch her flip and dive and swim, etc. Can't wait to upgrade her tank so she can really show me her skills! She's a water acrobat! So graceful, so beautiful.