General Care Discussion :: How do you know if your res is happy and ok in his tank?

[jleary1129]

I have a res his is about three years old. He has grown so much and we keep getting him bigger tanks and giving him a variety of food, he has basking rocks and lights and a heater....but he keeps climbing up the side of the tank like he wants to get out and he also does this thing where he flaps his front feet infront of his head???

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Im sure he is happy,it is normal for turtles to try to "escape from theyre tanks" it doesnt mean he is not happy.And the reason he flaps his front feet infront of his head,well...does he do it close to the glass? because if he does,he's doing it to his reflection either as a "mating ritual" or territorial thing..nothing to worry.Just curious,how is your setup like?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Make sure he has no way of getting out of the tank and falling.Try securing the top with "chicken wire" or some other type of wire.

[Hoooneylynn]

Are you sure its a he? If its a female, when she needs to lay eggs, she will try to frantically get out.

[Kallistos]

If he does this when you're by the tank, then he may just be begging for food which is completely normal. There's no real way of judging whether you RES is "happy," but as long as they have enough space and are healthy, then that's the best we can do for them. Actually, you could try and put something in there that will keep him occupied, like a PVC tee, you can get creative, check out the photo gallery for ideas.

[industrial_girl_2000]

If he does this when you're by the tank, then he may just be begging for food which is completely normal. There's no real way of judging whether you RES is "happy," but as long as they have enough space and are healthy, then that's the best we can do for them. Actually, you could try and put something in there that will keep him occupied, like a PVC tee, you can get creative, check out the photo gallery for ideas.

I agree!

[jleary1129]

i dont know if he is a male or female...he has a basking light and rocks to lay on, enough water to swim, underwater heater, an appropriate size tank for his size, he gets a variety of food. i have two turtle statues near his tank one is a bobble head turtle that he really likes...

[flutterby]

What is your set up like?

[jleary1129]

he is in the dinning room so there is a lot of traffic...large tank, plants, two basking rocks...

[flutterby]

Tank size? Water depth?

[jleary1129]

forget the size but it is the recommended size for his size as per many res sights suggest and the water depth is over his shell but not over his head when he extends his neck...

[flutterby]

You should find out how many gallons it takes, and you should fill it up as far as you can, as long as the turtle can't escape. They're aquatic turtles and love love love to swim.

[jleary1129]

how will he be able to lay on his basking rock if the tank is filled up?

[flutterby]

You could get a new basking area for him? Look in the gallery for some ideas.

[Muirner]

forget the size but it is the recommended size for his size as per many res sights suggest and the water depth is over his shell but not over his head when he extends his neck...

Sense the RES is an Aquatic turtle, you need not worry about being over his head. They need 10 gal per shell inch. This means a 6" slider would need a 60 gal tank. Also, they need to have enough water that should they filp onto their back, they will be able to right themselves very easily.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6655

that is my setup, as you can see in the basking pics, i have a ZooMed floating dock, this allows for the dock to elevate and sink with the water level.