General Care Discussion :: Excessive sleeping?

[N4784N R4613]

Well, ever since I installed the new above tank basking area( http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7719 ), they have been taking "power naps"(like 5 to 20 minutes) during the day. They never used to do this, with there old basking dock. I was just wondering if something would trigger this? Like stress, or they are scared. The left side of the tank is much darked now, because the basking light only shines though the whole for the ramp.

Thanks for any replies,

Nathan Radle.

[SpotsMama]

Are they napping in the water or in the basking area?

[N4784N R4613]

In the water. They have only just touched the ramp, so they have not been basking.

[marisa]

Perhaps they're just not confident climbing that far out of the water. (And need more time before they're bolder). Is the ramp at an angle they can easily climb? Can they grip it to climb up it?

[N4784N R4613]

Yes, I have seen the bigger one on the ramp with just his "toes"in the water. They just refuse to leave the water. I have seen them sleep like this for longer amounts of time, but that is when the lights turn off.

I was just wondering if it was ok for them to, all the sudden, start taking "power naps"in the water during the day? They never did this before, unless there lights where out.

[steve]

Is the new basking area much warmer than the previous one?

[N4784N R4613]

No, the ramp is about 86 F, the platform is 88-89 F, and the highest point is 90-92 F. So all in all, it is a relatively cool basking area.

[SpotsMama]

Nathan, I think you're concerned about the napping. My turtle takes naps throughout the day. I don't recall if he did this when he was very little (he's three and a half going on four) but I know he's been doing it for quite awhile. He'll get still and just float in the water for maybe as much as 20 minutes. If I get close I can see that his eyes are closed. After awhile he wakes up and resumes his patroling or basking. He naps even when it's quite bright in his tank.

I don't think there's anything unusual about turtles napping during the day. What would be a cause for concern is a sudden change in behavior for no apparent cause.

Symptoms of illness in turtles include lethargy. That means they seem tired and not as alert as normal. If your turtle's not showing any other symptoms -he's eating ok, has a normal "startle" response, doesn't yawn a lot when he's breathing, eyes are not swollen, etc etc, then just taking naps during the day doesn't seem like a problem. If, on the other hand, you think he's lethargic plus he's exhibiting other symptoms, then you might want to do something about it.

[N4784N R4613]

No, they are not showing any other symptoms, they do just what your spot does. It just startle me, because I have never seen them do this. As long as its normal, I'm ok with it.

Thanks for your time,

A concerned Daddy.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Some days, my Sheba sits on her basking dock for 8 hours at a time (!). Other times, she gets up there for 20 minutes and then sits in the water for 2 hours staring at me from across the room, then back up on the dock for 20 minutes, etc.

My hatchling is a very shy basker, so I have never seen him up on his basking dock when I am home. But from the turtle-shaped wet spot on the dock, I know he has checked it out from time to time.

They do what they do! I just leave the lights on for 14 hours a day just in case they want to bask.