General Care Discussion :: SLEEPING

[ACF&RESLOVER]

I have one RES that spends a lot of time basking and another that spends a lot of time under water hiding behind one of the decorations in the tank. It has been that way the entire time I have them (a little over 2 years). The one that hides will bask from time to time, but when he was hiding he was always alert and awake. Lately, he's constantly sleeping during the day when he's hiding. He still seems OK when it comes to eating and other health related appearance issues, but he's almost always sleeping and much less active than he used to unless it's feeding time.

I have my new 75 gallon tank for about 2 months and that's when it started. In the smaller tank he had a favorite sleeping spot he would go to every night. I tried to recreate it in the new tank, but he doesn't like it. He more or less sleeps in different spots all the time and moves around a lot at night.

Should I be worried at all about his lower activity level and sleeping?

[GThiele93]

I have the same exact problem my turtles are opposites just like that. I need help too.

[SpotsMama]

What's the water temperature? What's the temperature on the basking platform? Be sure and measure it with a thermometer - it's impossible to tell just by how it feels.

[ACF&RESLOVER]

Right now the water temperature is in the mid 70s (75-76) and the basking platform is around 90. In the summer, the water warms up a little and can approach 78. By mid 70s is pretty stable.

[SpotsMama]

The temperatures sounds fine. Some turtles simply slow down in the winter, then perk up in spring. Perhaps that's what's going on.

It's normal for turtles to sleep all over the place - one place tonight, another tomorrow - and to move around a lot at night.

Keep an eye on them in case they start showing other signs of illness. A sick turtle is lethargic, may want to bask all the time, loses his appetite, may have swollen or irritated eyes, sometimes swims loppsided, may have mucus around the mouth or nose. If one of them starts behaving like a sick turtle then get him to the vet ASAP.