General Care Discussion :: Need Help! Turtle isnt basking

[Mr.Rodin]

Hello. My name is Rodin. This is my first post here. Its going to be a long one, but I need help. It seems like no one knows what to do. Ok in march I bought a RES hatchling. I had him in a 30 gallon tank. He had a small floating dock, a 50 watt basking lamp and a uvb lamp. He was a happy little turtle. As healthy turtles do, he outgrew his tank. I recently purchased him a 48 X 25 X 25 tank. I have a fluval 405 filter, the hoses come from the bottom and I have a internal heater (connected from the outside of the tank through the hoses, not in the tank) I spent alot of money and thought my little guy would be thrilled. I started noticing him acting weird. I figured he would just take time to adjust. Also I had added a backround picture which he kept attacking. I figured it was stressing him out so I removed it. Now here are the issues. He isn't basking (at all). He isn't eating as much as he used to. And finally he gets scared of me when I walk into the room. Now here is all the info. I moved him into another room, so he is no alone most of the day. I added a bigger floating dock. I switched from 50 watts to 75 watts of heat lamp and still no basking. I went out today and dumped even more money. I bought a 125 watt uva/uvb and heat lamp all in one. I checked to see the heat to see if its too much, but seems ok about 95 degrees. Now before my lights were clamped on, but now they are sitting on top of the screen. I have raised and lowered the water temp from 78 to 83 degrees, still no basking. The man at the pet shop convinced me to also purchase a 100 watt infrared bulb. He told me he wouldn't see the light and would actually sleep on the dock. I had to turn it off because i could tell it was really bothering him. He wasn't sleeping and he was just s[lashing water all around. I dont know what to do. I dont know how to get him to bask? By the way the light is 6 to 7 inches away from his dock. Do I lower the water temp? increase it? Is this just a transitional phase because of his new enviorment? What am I doing wrong? He seems healthy. Nothing wrong with his eyes. No closing or squinting. I dont know please help. If you need more info please ask and I will do my best to answer. He needs to start basking. I am afraid of shell rot or other diseases.

[Arisu]

Hi, welcome!

Although your turtle was attacking the backdrop, it'll eventually leave it alone. A backdrop even boosts some turtle's security. When I first moved my turtle into a bigger tank and new background, he started attacking it too. Turtles probably think it's food-thats all

How long has it been since you moved your RES to his new tank? Did the change of behavior start at the same time? If so, it may very well just be a transitional phase.

Your basking/water temperatures seem fine... Are you doing anything different from the 30 gallon? Is the dock/platform the same?

[Mr.Rodin]

Dock platform has changed. I put a larger one. I gave my 30 gallon to someone who didn't know much about res's. He bought two for his son, so i gave it to him to seperate them. It is going to be a week tomorow.

[Mr.Rodin]

Oh and yes it began when I put him in the new tank. So is this all normal? I also had another question. The tank is bare right now. Ive heard adding gravil/ rocks helps with benificial bacteria. Whats a good type of gravel I can get him so he cant eat it. I dont wanna put rocks because ive heard its too difficult to clean, Or should I just leave it bare with no rocks? I was also thinking of adding fake plants, Some pet shops say its ok to do so and some say its not, because the turtle may eat the fake plants/.

[myboyblue]

Im not sure how much of a help I can be as Im a brand new res owner. I added a few fake plants and Solo just loves them. I havent seen him eating them, just hanging around and hiding in them. If there not good Id certainly remove them if warned to, but as of now it just seems he really likes them.

I also added an artificial floater, and he didnt use it for about 3/4 of the day but now he loves it. I also moved the basking lamp from clamp to screen and was worried about the height difference in terms of heat, but it didnt seem to matter he still basks.

Good luck.

[megcornell]

Definitely add some fake plants, they give turtles resting places in larger tanks which boosts the security of smaller turtles. Even though they're natural swimmers, it still takes a while to get used to an increase in swimming space like your guy is experiencing.
As for the splashing around, when I first gave my two tanks backgrounds, my male didn't care, but my female spent days "studying" the background to the point where I thought she was obsessed with it. Eventually she got over it and I think they enjoy the privacy the backing affords them.
I think giving your turtle a little while longer to adjust may be all that he needs. Some turtles adjust quicker than others, so be patient.
As for the gravel, it's true that in fish tanks, the gravel certainly provides surface area for bacteria growth. But, turtles are prone to eating gravel and becoming impacted making the gravel much more of a risk than it could ever be a benefit. You can add a few large river rocks, sand, or leave a bare bottom. Anything that a turtle can fit into it's mouth it will.

[Mr.Rodin]

Need quick answer before I go back to the pet shop. So they convinced me to buy a infrared light so he can sleep on the basking platform at night. I told him my turtle has always slept in the water. He told me me, if I put heat directed towards the light, he would actually sleep on the dock and he cant see infra red light. My turtle hated it. I called him and asked if I can exchange it for something, and he told me I should get a ceramic light that is invisible and emits heat. Is this necceasary? Do turtle need to sleep out of the water? Or is he just fine with the heat lamp uva/uvb light during the day and sleep in the water at night. Dont gorget, I have a heater so water temp is always in the 80s. Please let me know, I have to be there in a few hours.

[Take-One]

It isn't necessary. Its unnatural, turtles don't go out at night to bask in the wild. Why should a captive?

[Arisu]

Turtles sleep in the water and not land. UVA/B light during the day is enough. A lot of pet store assistants don't know too much about the animals they're selling...

[bradmeisel]

Turtles like to sleep in the water at night and they like to bask and nap in the light during the day. You should try to have the lights go on and off with the sun of that season with a timer.

[Mr.Rodin]

awsome thanks everybody