General Care Discussion :: shell in danger?

[GreenRocksOfDoom]

In the center of my tank, I have my turtle's basking spot which is a plastic island with
a sort of plateau that is 4" higher than the rest of the island. Kobi will climb to the top to
bask but as soon as someone gets near him, he scrambles off as fast as he can. He always
lands on his back and I'm wondering if this is going to hurt his shell in any way. I have noticed
that there are white marks on the top of his shell where he lands that look as if the coloring on
his shell is getting chipped off. Should I be worried?

[twyangzii]

Shouldn't be landing on his back if your water is deep enough ,

[GreenRocksOfDoom]

The problem is that he always tries to escape in the oposite direction he senses someone to be in.
Only by falling off one side of the plateau would he land on the island. The other three he would land
in the water. Its an island too, so the plateau isn't the only part that is out of the water. He just slides
off thinking he's escaped into the water only to land on his back. Should I raise the water then?

[Kemul]

I think you should provide as much water as you can without allowing your turtle
the possibility of escaping. And as long as the basking platform allows your turtle's
upper and lower shell to completely dry out, you should be fine.

[GreenRocksOfDoom]

Thx for the info.

Can turtles jump???

[Azfar]

Yeah sure turtles can jump if the water level is high til he can reach the top.

[GreenRocksOfDoom]

You mean they can actually jump as in out of the water?
Not just climb out?

Because I'm wondering how much space I should leave between the surface of the water and the top.
I don't want to have to get a top either. I like being able to interact with him without having to remove
a top.

[Kemul]

Well, I don't think turtle can jump like fish do, shooting directly out of the water.
Turtle can surely climb though. Just make sure there's nothing on the sides that
can be used to climb out. The safe distance would be a little longer than the shell
plus longest reach of head and hind legs.

[Azfar]

HEh.. what I mean is they can jump out from the water when they can climb to the top and escaped.

I also don't put any top at my turtles tank because I like to spend most of the time watching them and hand feed them.

I leave 2 inch space between water level to the top of tank.

[theartbook35]

Try surrounding your basking spot with plants. Kobi just wants privacy is all.

Turtles are very good at "jumping". Mine aren't even a full two inches yet (I treat them as they are though) and they will literally rocket themselves from the bottom of the tank to the surface. It's pretty awesome looking. My tank is half full for now, so they can't escape.

[GreenRocksOfDoom]

It seems so obvious now...

Thx for the advice. I will put more plants around it. That way he'll just fall on the plants.

[theartbook35]

It seems so obvious now...

Thx for the advice. I will put more plants around it. That way he'll just fall on the plants.

Yw

I have a piece of cardboard in front of the tank wall where their basking log is, so that when people walk by they don't freak out anymore. It's a high traffic room, but they just don't like it when I walk by them.

I made their tank too natural... They have all their instincts, even their hunting behaviors. I am so getting them an outdoor pond when they grow larger.