General Care Discussion :: turtles not basking - new tank + turtle dock...

[windowsforeyes]

Hi all,

I've given my turtles (both a little under 2" now) a new tank -- a 55 gallon set up (I'll post pictures soon) -- and in doing so switched to a medium-sized turtle dock for their basking spot. They've been in the tank since Friday afternoon and I've yet to see them basking (though once I came in and one of them seemed to have just jumped off). Since then, though, all I've seen is them swimming over at the base of the dock -- this couldn't be a problem of them not being able to get up on the dock, right? Has anyone else had problems with the turtle dock?

Thanks!

[megcornell]

It sounds like they are just adjusting to the new tank. If you've already caught them basking once they can get up there, so it's just a matter of when they will be comfortable enough to do so.

[SpotsMama]

Until turtles get used to you and to their tank, they are often very shy about letting you see them bask. You can tell if your turtles are secret baskers by putting something - like a couple of pellets - on the basking platform, then see when you come back later if they've been moved.

thousands of turtles have used the zoo med turtle dock and have been able to figure out how to get up on it. I imagine yours will figure it out too.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Awesome idea about the putting pellets up there to check if he's basking. Since I've recently upgraded my tank too and was wondering, maybe I'll try that out and see if he walks off with them. Thanks!!