Habitat - Indoor :: my turtle won't get out of the water...

[gloveman]

ok...i'am on like three days of haven her and she still has not gotton out of the water......the only two times i've seen her do it is when shes trying to get away from me.......so i kno she can get out....but she just won't get out.....and spends most of the day with two hands on the rock ramp i set up peaking her face out and thats it......what do i do if she doesn't ever get out to dry off....the only thing i've tried is takeing her into the sun out side in a box.....and yes it has a shade side to it...but no water...as i fear she'll just stay in that water

[DanielRES1180]

Nothing to worry. Maybe your turtle gets out when you're not around so consider that. Also, your turtle might be adjusting to its habitat so it may take a while for him to adjust and get out of the water with confidence.
Same thing happened to me when I got the first turtle, I got worried at first but figured it was scared to get out of the water because everything was strange for him.

[marisa]

If you've said this before, I apologize in advance for having forgotten, but what is the temp of the basking area and water? Water temp should be around 75F and the basking area about 10 degrees higher, the high 80's would be good (but you have to experiment) a bit.

Are you giving your turtle some privacy? Can she get out of the water on to the basking area easily? If you haven't, covering the outsides of the tank where the basking area is might make her more apt to come out of the water.

Three days isn't all that long for a new turtle not to be basking. Give her a little more time. It's possible she's getting out of the water briefly when you're not around...

[missibsu]

My turtles are scared to death to bask when someone is near them. If they are basking, they go flying off the dock and to the bottom of the tank. It's natural instinct to do that. With time they may become more adjusted to you, but it depends on the turtle. For now, make sure the temps are right, and give her time to adjust.