General Care Discussion :: Basking hatchlings

[Noobie101]

Hi i just got 2 RES yestarday and have all the proper equipment and a great basking lamp,filter and heater/anyways i was told that aquatic turtles need to bask dayly and so i found this site and it was true and so my question is if new turtles need some time to adapt to the new tank because my hatchlings are around 1-2inchs in diameter and i suspcet around 2-4 months old and rarely bask so please reply

and on the rare occasion they bask when i enter my room where there in they sprawl away from the area


Btw yes i have a basking "area" in my tank.

[DavidY]

The first couple of weeks is always a period of adjustment for new turtles, especially babies. If you don't see them bask much during that time don't worry too much. As long as you have a basking area for them that is completely dry and at a temperature of 10 degrees above the water temp and has UVA/B lighting, you're all set. Usually they will bask when no one is around and then hit the water as soon as the see or hear anything approaching.

[steve]

Here are some tips about basking: www.redearslider.com/basking.html

And some more relevant topics:
www.redearslider.com/general_tips.html
www.redearslider.com/habitat_gallery.html

[marisa]

What's the basking area in the tank like? Is it easy for them to get on?

What's temp of the water? What's the temp of the basking area?

Perhaps putting a barrier around the end of the tank where the basking area is would give them more privacy and with a little more time they'd be more apt to bask.

[Noobie101]

Its one of those floating docks easy to get on

80 degrees and 90 degrees

thanks all!

[WyredHardware]

I agree with DavidY. When I first got Kokoro she was 1inch. She didn't bask at all for the first week then one day I came home after work and she was all stretched out. Even now if she sees me looking at her while she is basking she decides it is a good time to go for a swim. If the basking temp is right and your turtle can get on to the basking surface I am sure you will be fine.

[industrial_girl_2000]

If your turtle is very new, it might take time for him/her to bask. When I had a tiny hatchling, the little guy would bask when there was no one in the house. The only reason why I new he was basking is because there was a turtle-sized wet spot on the basking are when I came home from work (!). So you just have to look for clues after a while.

[Noobie101]

My turtles all settled in an basking now thanks they just needed adjusting