General Care Discussion :: Question about basking. How much?

[JAS722]

Do turtles bask less when they are shedding. My hatchling used to bask often when I first got her and now that she has gotten a lil bigger (1 and 1/2 inches - 2 inches) and is shedding, she basks less.

[SpotsMama]

My turtle basks 6 or 7 hours a day most days when he's relaxed. I don't recall whether he basks more or less when he's shedding, but I don't think it would be less. When he's nervous - like when I have to move him from one location to another - it can be a month or more before he basks like normal again. By the way, he's 7 years old and a little over 7" long.

[JAS722]

The one drastic change that could be affecting her basking is me male hatchling that I bought at the same time as her died last week and my mom, trying to make me feel better, immediatley went out and bought me another baby turtle. This new turtle is smaller then her only about an inch in diameter. They both eat healthy, but the new one basks often and my other does not. Could this be the reason why???

[SpotsMama]

A change like that could disrupt her behavior for awhile.

what' the temperature on the basking platform? On the water?

[JAS722]

The water is around 78 and the air temp is around 85. She hangs on to the platform and sticks her head far out but I have not seen her in the superman pose since last week.

[SpotsMama]

I assume when you say air temperature you mean the temperature on the basking platform. If I'm wrong, then measure the air temperature where your turtle would be if she were basking.

Keep the temperature on the basking platform to around 90 degrees. Right now there's not enough difference between the water and basking platform temp (if indeed it's 85 degrees) to entice her to bask.

[JAS722]

I will try moving the heat lamp closer to the basking area and see if that works. Thank you spotsmama!