General Care Discussion :: turtle bask for only 5 mins or so...

[redearcoma]

I found my turtles only bask for about 5-10 mins everytime and just leaves the platform. I'm thinking maybe it's because the platform is transparent (acryllic-plexiglass), what do you guys think?

[SpotsMama]

Why don't you put something on the platform to cover it up and give the turtle some traction. Maybe some waterproof tape would do it.

Be sure the basking temperature is good. If it's too hot, the turtle will hop down like that. Should be around 90 degrees, though some turtles like a few degrees higher.

What kind of UVB light bulb do you use? How close is it to the platform? How long have you had this bulb? How long since you changed out your basking platform?

[marisa]

Do you see them going up to bask, down into the water and then up on the basking area again? You need to check the basking area temp (88-90F is OK). Too warm and your turtles will act like a yo-yos, going up to bask but not being able to take the heat for long and then going back in the water.

I doubt the transparency of the plexiglass is affecting their basking behavior. If the basking platform is just flat, smooth plexiglass, however, when they lay on it wet, their plastrons aren't really getting a chance to dry off. You could add more texture to the basking area by putting a flat rock (or several of them) on the basking area. You could silicone them to the plexiglass to keep them in place if they're smaller. Is there a ramp to the basking area?

[redearcoma]

Hey, I use the reti-glo spot lamp and the basking area seem to be just the right temperature. And yes, there's a ramp to the basking area; they seem to come up a lot when I'm near their tank and they beg for food and they eat from my hand and just jump back into the water. But as to basking, it only lasts 5-10 minutes. I just switched to this platform from a zoomed floating dock where they used to bask them for hours and hours. I don't know what is the problem here.

Do you see them going up to bask, down into the water and then up on the basking area again? You need to check the basking area temp (88-90F is OK). Too warm and your turtles will act like a yo-yos, going up to bask but not being able to take the heat for long and then going back in the water.

I doubt the transparency of the plexiglass is affecting their basking behavior. If the basking platform is just flat, smooth plexiglass, however, when they lay on it wet, their plastrons aren't really getting a chance to dry off. You could add more texture to the basking area by putting a flat rock (or several of them) on the basking area. You could silicone them to the plexiglass to keep them in place if they're smaller. Is there a ramp to the basking area?

[SpotsMama]

Maybe they just need a little time to get used to it. Why don't you put some rocks on there as Marisa suggested and give it a few days.