General Care Discussion :: Turtle Not getting in Water

[Kazari24]

BTW, do you have a link for that heater? I looked on Petsmart and Petco and didn't see what you were talking about. I want to make sure I am getting the right one. Also, even if the water's at 76 degrees, do you know why he doesn't want to be in the water? Today I turned off the filter so the water was still and he stayed in longer when it was warm but like when it's 76, he just gets back on his dock or rock and he won't get in the water. I guess he's just normal and prefers to be dry a lot? I mean I leave him in his plastic tank for about a hour mostly in the evenings to feed when I offer him food and in the mornings I try at least 30-40 minutes when I'm getting ready for work.

[cam722]

I found it on petsmart.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_ ... &N=2023693

Take a copy of that page with you if you go to get one, so they'll pricematch their online price..

[mkoby]

Definitely take that sheet with you. I think I paid $23 for the 50 watt!

[Kazari24]

Good! That is the one I did find! I will go look for it! If not, I'll order it! I put him in the water and it was around 74-76 and he floated around a little then got back on his rock so he's not freaking out as much. I just don't understand why he won't stay in the water, even to sleep. In the summer, he would bask and if you walked near him, he would jump in the water and he would swim in the water, but now even with the filter off at night, he stays on his dock in the same position all night. I even wake up every now and then to check on him. But at least now he's not throwing a fit at night.

[Kazari24]

I noticed that the top portion of his shell is very soft too like u can push on it. Since he's not eating the pellets and not getting the calcium he needs, I am now crushing the pellets into water and making him snap to force feed him the pellets with a syringe. Hoopefully this will help him out. Since he's being a brat and doesn't like healthy stuff for him. Any other food I can offer for calcium? I have calcium supplement powder for the leaves but now he won't touch the leaves so that doesn't work. Now he mostly wants to eat is krill and shrimp. Sometimes gut filled calcium crickets. The vet said the pellets are the best for him and he hates it. I even tried the pellets with tuna water.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I realy hope that things turn out ok! Do you have a basking lamp for him? Becaue if im correct (correct me if im wrong) when theyre shells get soft..its cause of lack of uva/uvb?

[cam722]

More than likely once the water gets up to a better and more regular temperature his appetite should increase. You should give him a piece of cuttlebone for the calcium. It's the same cuttlebone you use for birds but you need to remove the hard backing. Just break off a piece and let it float in the tank. He should just nibble on it as he wishes.

[Kazari24]

I have something called turtle bone that I put in the water for him, though since he won't get in the water I don't keep it in there but I do have some. It has calcium in it. Hopefully once I get everything straightened out, he will improve. Thank you guys for ALL your help!!!!!! You are the best!! I really appreciate it! You saved me a lot of vet bills!

[Kazari24]

I got the heater today. I got the 50WATT for 10 gallon tank. I guess that's okay. It says up to 15 gallons. Anyways. Can you place the heater on the bottom of the tank or do you have to put it on the side? I got the visi therm stealth heater. I was going to have it lay down on the bottom with the suction cups. Would that be okay? Or do you have to stand it up? If I have to stand it up, I may have to go back and get the other heater that I have already because that's too much water for him.

[cam722]

you can put it horizontally on the back of the tank. It shouldn't touch anything other than the glass.. no decorations or rocks. You can put it near the bottom of the back or side.. not sure in a 10 gallon tank if the sides are big enough though.

[Kazari24]

That's fine. Okay well my tank is glass all the around. I do have rocks in there but I can try to see if I can move those away from it. I put rocks in there so he can get on his basking area. Do you think it would be okay if he ever came in contact with it? I am not sure if I should go with this or go find another one of the same one that I have

[SpotsMama]

Your turtle will undoubtedly come into contact with the heater at some time, no matter what kind you put in there, but it won't hurt him. Lots of people use the stealth - I've used them for quite a while - and I've never heard of a turtle being hurt by one. They are really good heaters.

The problem with the glass heaters is they can break. I had one that exploded when I left it on while I cleaned the tank then filled the tank with cool water. When the cold water hit the hot glass - bam!

[Kazari24]

Hmm really I am just concerned about his rocks because the substrate helps him get on his basking area. I don't know if I should take both heaters back and get another one of the one I already have and just see if the first one was faulty.

[SpotsMama]

Do we have a picture of your setup somewhere?

[Kazari24]

Not yet. I have to take pictures.