redearslider.com

I'm a new owner of 2 RES. One of my turtles is alternating between basking on their dock and swimming in the water. The other, however, rarely goes into the water. He'll swim around a bit if I put him in the water, and he'll also eat a bit, but for the most part, he's just been basking and sleeping. Nothing else seems wrong - no troubles breathing, no open mouth, no other signs I've read on here to look for. So am i just being paranoid and he's actually fine, or should I be concerned? Water Temp is 78.

What is yoru basking temp? It should be about 10 degrees warmer than the water so 88 to 90 degrees. your res may just be a little to comfy up there if there isnt much of a temp difference.

I'm pretty sure the air is colder than the water. I live in a small town with few turtle supplies, so I don't have the heat lamp yet and it's around 70 in my house. I'll be getting a heat lamp in a couple days.

If they are just comfy up there, is that all well and good? How long should a healthy RES typically stay out of water?

I would say room temp is just a little too comfy. They should only come out the water to basking under a UVA/UVB Bulbs. If you happen to have just a incandescent bulb you can somehow place near the basking area that will work fine since they give of heat. You will also be needing a UVB light I suggest a ReptiGlo 5.0 Compact florescent that you could put in a lamp lamp you get at the pet store. Also put the heat bulb in a clamp lamp also and have them over the basking area. The UVB light doesn't give of heat so you cant use that as a basking lamp.

That doesn't sound like normal behavior at all. Turtles usually won't bask much if there's no heat source for them. Hatchlings are normally very active and skittish, they usually rocket off the dock into the water whenever anyone approaches. Even if they're not babies it's not normal behavior, it sounds like he might be sick

ironic q -- I think your turtle is trying to get dried off and warm. Try and keep to the basics of temp, lighting, nutrition, and filtration. Water 78-80, basking 90, uva, uvb, good food and filtration. The basics --

Usually if they stay on their basking dock all day and try to stay out of the water it means they are sick.

do you know the turtle's history? did you get them from somewhere that they've already been pets? or from a pet store? how big are they?

unless they are older turtles who've been in captivity for a long time and are used to people, i'd say that is abnormal behavior, possibly suggesting sickness. you may want to get them to a vet. early diagnosis is important to their chance of survival.