General Care Discussion :: Sleeppinggg??

[jasmiester]

So today..my basking platform broke..and it has some things sticking out kidna that are dangerous. Normally, I see that sometimes my turts rest on the platform at night. I took out the platform, and I am building a new one with my dad, it should be finished by monday or tuesday. My concern is, are they fine without a platform for a two days? I'm not concerned about basking, I know people with turtles that dont even have a platform to bask on so two days shouldn't be a problem. My main question is, turtles can sleep under water right?... ><

[SpotsMama]

Turtles can sleep underwater. they will surface periodically to get a sniff of air. In fact, most turtles sleep underwater even when they have a basking platform. However, they would be much happier during the day if they had something to rest on at the surface of the water. Can you put a plastic plant in there - something that reaches to the surface of the water? They can rest on the leaves.

On the people you know with turtles who don't even have a platform to bask on, I hope you'll make it clear to them that they are dooming their turtles. Shell rot followed by septicemia is not pretty but that's where the turtles are headed without an opportunity to dry off at regular intervals.

[mikee]

Mama -- You are absolutely correct. Turtles need to get dried off and hopefully bask to help metabolize their food. For them to in the water for a couple of days without basking is ok. However, it they were mine, I would dry docks them for a couple of hours after the first day. Make sure that it is a warm place. Most people don't think about them cooling off and then dumping them back in the warm water. I have a 10 gallon tank with a clamp on light for that.-- Good Luck!!

[SpotsMama]

Mikee, I'm with you on the periodic dry docking while they're without a basking platform. I probably won't hurt them to go without for a few days but it would be better for them to dry off every day.