General Care Discussion :: RES not taking to new basking area

[fryman86]

Hey,
This is my first post so forgive me for not knowing the answer if it is something simple lol.

Anyway, when I originally set up the tank for my RES (Donna), I had to do so in somewhat of a hurry. She had two previous owners who kept her in a small plastic terrarium that was only about a foot long, with barely enough water in it for her to be covered. Once she was given to me I began researching and was horrified to discover that she wasn't being taken car of at all. I set up a 55 gallon tank as soon as I could get one and basically made a tower coming up out of the water, with a rock on it for her to bask. She took to this and basked quite often. However, being that there was no ramp, when the water level dropped, she would have difficulty getting onto the basking area. So I decided to get her one of those Zoo-Med Turtle Docks that attaches to the tank with suction cups. Well, its been a few days and I haven't seen her bask. All she does is swim around it cautiously and bite at it!

Any suggestions?

[jenaero]

RES, like most reptiles, take time to adjust when you make any kind of changes to their habitat. She knows it's there, and she'll figure it out eventually. Mine didn't bask for about a week when I got them their first zoo med dock. As long as the temps are correct, it'll be fine.

[Vtolds]

It took a couple weeks fro my Res to adjust too using a basking area out side of the tank instead of what we had been using which was a stack of flat rocks. Give her time she will more than likely start using it soon.

[fryman86]

Thanks guys,
Apparently all I needed to do was post on the forum because as I read your responses, I looked up to see her halfway up on the ramp! When she noticed me looking she quickly got down. I guess she's just being shy.

Thanks again!

[Vtolds]

Yeah Rexi was very shy about about wanting to get on her new basking area for a while. She would get up and be fine but if we moved or looked at her she would jump down.

[fryman86]

Yeah, Donna used to do that with the rock I had for her to bask on. After awhile she got the point where I could pretty much do anything in my room except stick my hand in the tank or jump up from the chair and she would be fine. Guess she just has to go through that process again. She is very interested in it though, swimming around it and hanging off the sides of it.