Habitat - Indoor :: Turtle not leaving one corner of tank

[kikicool]

It is horizontal, across the bottom of the tank. Is that okay?

[flutterby]

I don't think it makes much of a difference and my heater is also horizontal across the bottom of the tank.

[grey goose]

In general, air temps (room) should be around 72F. A bit warm for most humans especially if you have to pay the heat bill! In the summer, I have the most trouble keeping all the temps stable. The winter is easier because your furnace keeps the house at a set temp. RES are pretty hardy, but I believe its better to err on the side of too warm as too cold. Plus I think your turt is not quite used to his surroundings or you yet. I've got three baby turts and two of them are already eating out of my hand, basking while I'm in the room, dining in a seperate container, etc. The other one, Beaker, is a little slow at getting the program. Like your guy, he just hides under the ramp, and prefers to dine alone. I'm thinking of renaming him "twenty minutes" because every time I try to interact with him, Dustin Hoffman comes to mind, saying "Yeah, twenty minutes to Wapner. Definitely twenty minutes to Wapner."
But he is eating his share, and playing well with the others, so I just have to be patient, and he'll come around.....perhaps thats all your guy needs too.

[boruchj]

Hi,

Was your heater sold as a horizontal set-up or is it meant to be that way. I have a vertical, but the water level will not accomodate it, so I need to buy a new one, horizontal I think.

[CountryGirl68]

As long as the heater is submersible, you can position it vertically or horizontally. Just make sure it is always under the water level.

[kikicool]

Hey, Grey Goose--I think you were RIGHT. I sunk some ice in there, and today? HE BASKED!

However, now I think there's another issue: it's a corner basking platform. One corner is kinda tight--and that's the corner he chooses to depart from. He gets stuck a bit, but manages to get himself out. I think I need to trim it so this doesn't keep happening.

THANKS ALL FOR THE ADVICE!!!

[grey goose]

Yay! Careful with the ice Kiki, in a 20 gal, the temps could drop fast, and little Shmeegel might get a chill....and you MUST tell us the backstory on that name!

[kikicool]

Thanks for asking about the name. I looked up to see if I could find a picture of the source and actually found the correct spelling: Smeagol. I'm showing my age here, but back in the 70's, my older brothers were obsessed with The Hobbit. This is the cartoon version, I mean. I myself am no Tolkien buff (so excuse me if I get this a bit wrong). But in the cartoon, there was Gollum, the creature with the ring who says "My PRECIOUSSS" all the time. And, there was his good side, who was sweet. His good side was named Smeagol. And spoke in a way such that he said "Shmeegel." As in "Smeagol has pleased you? Smeagol is good!" etc. and I just LOVED it. To me, he looked like what I imagine a shell-less turtle would look like. And so, the name. Here's a pic. Don't you think he's kinda cute?
http://www.squelched.com/pics/smeagol.jpg

[grey goose]

Oh! I knew heard that name before!! LOL now I'm showing my age too!

[SpotsMama]

Adorable!

[kikicool]

Thanks

[TurtleFreak 65]

He probably just likes to hang out under the rock. My turtle ALWAYS used to do that, he even slept under the rock too.