General Care Discussion :: Hiding all the time

[waterdolphin777]

So I finally got Rushell into a proper tank and found a very nice rock for a basking area. It even had this little ledge that Rushell could go under for some darkness. It seems like he's been spending all of his time down there now though. I can lure him out with food, but he just chills under the ledge all the time. I don't think he's actually basked by himself in a while. Is this just some shyness he'll get over sooner or later?

[michaelg]

Can you go into more detail about the tank and how long Rushell has been in the new tank? Whenver I make a change to our Yellow Belly Slider Martha's pond, it can take about 5 days for her to adjust before she gets back to basking.

-Michael

[penelope]

Like Michael mentioned, it could just be the new set up. I tried to switch my gal's basking area to a "new and improved" one a few years back. She wanted nothing to do with it. I finally went back to her zoo med dock and she was happy has can be.
Another time I put a log in her tank. It had a hollow space just large enough to put her head in. She lived with her head in that little hollow for over a week. I think she kind of liked having a place "hide" for once.
If he's eating and otherwise looking and acting healthy, just let him enjoy his new chill-out spot. he'll get bored with it sooner or later