Habitat - Indoor :: Water Level

[Brianthedog18]

I know the basking area should be far enough down so that the turtle cant reach up and crawl out, but are they able to pull themselves out of the water and out?
Or can they only climb out from the basking area with something to push themsleves up with?

[missibsu]

I don't know for sure, but I would venture to say that they stand on something to pull themselves out. When I have watched my turts in the water, they have never stuck more than a head out of the wate without support under their feet. I have heard of turtles standing on heaters or spray bars for the xp3, so I guess it doesn't have to be very big of a space though.

[steve]

They can pull themselves out though they are more likely able to latch onto something to get a boost. Another turtle, a suction cup - almost anything could do it.

From observation (I learned the hard way), my RES would first get a grip on the top of a tank or container and eventually angle themselves so they could get a rear leg over the top.

The basking area can be higher IF the top is very secure to prevent escape. I wouldn't be surprised if some get out of tank hoods and screen tops.

[missibsu]

How much weight can they lift? I know when I have them in my hand, they pull against my hand in an effort to get out of my grasp. My cover is glass, and it has a handle on the front of it. The light fixture is then hooked over that handle. With the hooks on the end and that handle, it doesn't slide any direction more than about 1cm. I just didn't know if they were able to lift it up completely to push it out of the way.

[steve]

I don't think they need to completely push it out of the way... just enough to squeeze by. Since I let my turtles roam around (with paranoid supervision), I've seen them squeeze through furniture, bury themselves under rocks, and climb out of many containers.

I don't use a hood or screen currently, but I think if they feel a physical barrier on top then they would be more reluctant to try. To be safe, I think any thing to weigh it down should be enough but not a guarantee.