General Care Discussion :: any suggestions?

[rsour24]

my turtle does not bask around me and seem kind of scared
im just wondering if there is anythign i can do to make her
feel more comfortable she is getting close to 2" so still a baby

[boredwake]

I had the same question, after poking around on here I found that you could try concealing the basking area. Other then that not really sure... Good luck

[papoopeepoo]

How long has your turtle been in it's current enclosure? Is the enclosure in a high traffic area of your home?

[mikee]

rs-24 It may take a long time to get acclimated to new surroundings. It may be several months for that to happen. It will be a gradual thing. You may want to try and feed them by hand for a while. When you become their source of food they may warm up a little. m.

[rsour24]

papo-1 month and no, its in my bedroom
mikee- i tried a couple times b4 and he refused to take it but as soon as i put it down he had at it, how can i get him to take it from my hands?

[worldpeace]

He won't take it from your hand right away.

You can hold a pellet and slowly lower your hand towards the top of the water making sure he sees you do this. If he knows that food is coming he might come closer to the food in your hand. Then drop the pellet close to him. Do this for some time until he realizes that your hand is the source of his food and won't be scared anymore. Eventually he will "break the ice" and take the pellet right from your fingers. Give him time. Good luck.

[rsour24]

worldpeace- ill try it but when he sees me go to the top of them tank he goes and hides either under the filter or this fake plant i have on the surface so idk if he will see me, should i move him to a different tank to feed him?

[worldpeace]

If you use a different container that would definitely eliminate the possibility of hiding and not seeing you. If you do choose this path, don't try to hand feed him for a few days, just drop the pellets in the container next to him and give him some privacy (leave the room or go somewhere he can't see you). This will help him to get used to eating there. After a day or two you can try hand feeding him.

[jozzep]

I don't believe hand feeding is the answer here.
He's just skidish and if you conceal the basking area to where he can't see you and feel safe, you have a better chance.Also make sure your water temps aren't too high.If the water is too warm, the turtles will have no "will" to bask.

[rsour24]

i know the water temps r not high, how long would i have to conceal the basking area b4 he chills out?

[steve]

This is probably one of the better written parts of the site: www.redearslider.com/basking.html

[rsour24]

i would like to thank all of you for your ideas!
i had a hige break through tonight! when i got home he was basking i got into my room and he stayed up on his dock basking, he jumped when i ran out of my room to tell my mom out of excitement. (whoops) but then he stayed at the top of the water when i got my hand close to above him(or her) and he just stayed there and i placed a pellet above him and he ate it, it was like he knew i would feed him. so cute

[worldpeace]

Great to hear that. It seems that Myrtle is getting more comfortable with your presence in the room and probably realized that you are "the food source".

I hope to achieve the same thing with my turtle soon. Can't wait for the day when I'll walk into my room and I won't see him jet off the deck with an incredible speed.

[mikee]

rs-24 - First of all, let him get hungry and try it. Do it in steps. Like I said, it will take a while. When I started out with turtles and now, I feed them at night and try feeding while wearing a white tee shirt and a large yellow Reptomine can of food. They equate the time of day, the yellow can and my white tee shirt with getting fed. All this takes a little time. m.

[Sniffa]

It took my turtles around a month to start basking around me.
But they're still alittle skiddish.