General Care Discussion :: Nesting Behavior?

[Wilmainschool]

Hey guys,

I've been doing great with Wilma. We made it through Thanksgiving and Christmas break without any problems. But all of a sudden Wilma is acting really weird. I just refilled the tank back to its full level (its been really dry so the water is evaporating quickly) and now she seems to be doing pull ups on the lip of the tank. Previously before this she would just simply splash and plop around when I was near. I know that is just her begging, but lately it seems different. She gets up on her basking area, and gets down, up for 5 minutes and then back down. And now with the water full she has been pushing herself up on the ledge of the tank and pulling up with her legs frantically looking for something to push up on. I dont think she can get out because she doesnt have nything to push up on but she does a pretty good job of getting her front legs up on the lip and just kind of hanging there. She is still eating normal, but she is definitely acting weird. I watched a couple of youtube videos about how to check for eggs, but I just cant feel anything. She also seems to be eating some sand again. She hasnt eaten any since the couple of days after we put it in. I noticed her starting this pull up thing last night before I left, so I put some duck tape to hold the screen wall in place and cover the 4 inches or so that arent covered to keep her from falling out just incase. So is all this nesting behavior or is the water too high? The water has been this high before but she never tried to get out like she did before. If it is nesting behavior what do I do? Since shes in the classroom and not at my house Im worried about leaving her in dirt or whatever over night...I am posting pictures of our tank so you can see what I am talking about. Tanks specs are as follows:

75 gallon tank with ATBA
Water temp: 75-80 depending on time of day and temperature in my room
Basking area temp is about 90-100 also depending on the time of day.
I have a regular 75 watt bulb for heat and she has a Repti Glo 10.0 UVB bulb for UVBs

She gets the turtle shots as her main food every other day, about as much as 1-2 ice cubes, and she gets a couple of pieces of fruit with about 20 2 x a week or so on a day when she doesnt get the jello shots...She wont eat lettuice of any kind (tried romaine, red and green leaf, kale)

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Wilmainschool]

I only have a couple days to figure out what to do. I do not want to leave her like this over the weekend. Thanks guys.

[Tokapeli]

My turt has been acting the exact same way lately. Im pretty sure shes gravid but like you say its hard to tell. maybe you can set up a nesting spot and just leave her in there during the day, and put her back in the tank for nights and weekends.

[Wilmainschool]

What would that look like? Just a tub with what, dirt? or sand? Does she still need the heat lamps in there? Id be worried shed get too cold?

[Wilmainschool]

No change in her behavior today. She is still trying to escape. I found some rubber maid type tubs at walmart that might work...Im still not sure about what to put in it, or how long she should be in it. or if she even needs to go in it? Some help would be great.

[steve]

Nesting behavior might happen during the same time of day. She would also be restless and would frantically swim. Does she respond to you normally when she is acting this way?

[Wilmainschool]

Sort of. She still wants to eat and begs at the tank when I am standing there but she seems a little more skittish...startles easily. Previously shed spend a couple hours during the day up on the ATBA even when my students were noisy, but shes constantly moving right now...the only time i see her stop is when she sinks to the bottom to eat a couple of mouthfuls of sand. Thanks.

[steve]

Has she made any motions with her rear feet, like kicking her tail or digging motions?

[Wilmainschool]

Im not sure. I havent really noticed that.

[steve]

Do you take her out of the tank? Does she act the same way if you do?

[Wilmainschool]

we dont take her out very often because of the salmonella issue here at the school. Should I take her out for some time tomorrow? Like outside or something?

[steve]

What are the temps outside? Ideally it would be around 75F

[Wilmainschool]

Ok. then it is probably too chilly. Its in the 50s mostly during the day here. She was still in her tank when I came in this morning so she did not escape over the weekend She seemed to be calm pretty much all mroning but it seems like the behaviors have started around 11 am every day...and she is still doing it today. Should I get a container? and what would I put in it? Thanks.

[Wilmainschool]

Alright...well im pretty compelled to just give her a try in a nesting box. She was doing belly flops off of her ATBA today because she was still trying to get out...Attempting to climb the screen and going vertical on to the back of her shell and rolling off the platform into the water. I guess it cant hurt to try. So what do I need. A deep tub? what kind of filler, dirt? sand? how long will it take if she is gravid? Could use a few more ideas...thanks.

[steve]

Just keep in mind that indoor nesting boxes usually don't work. I think regular yard dirt is fine, though some people add sand and other types of soil. The level should be as long as your turtles length, so a 8" turtle should have dirt that 8" deep. This is because she might stop if she feels there is an obstruction. If she is gravid, she might be wanting to get out the same time during the day, so be aware of when she wants to get out. She will probably be stressed out when you put her in there and just make a mess.