General Care Discussion :: swimming

[mistersampo]

I have two RES in a 120 gallon tank now. Each is ~5 inches in length.

One of them swims all the time, stopping only to sleep or bask. The other one swims only to breathe or eat. Other than that she just sits at the bottom of the tank. Even when she does swim, she seems to struggle with it more than my other turtle. My active turtle will float at the top of the water while eating, while my inactive turtle will sink quite a bit to eat a piece of food. Also, she constantly has to tread water while taking a breather, while my active turtle can float effortlessly at the top of the water while breathing. I have noticed that the turtles seem to have different proportions on their rear feet, my active turtles feet are much larger proportionately. I wonder if that has anything to do with her lack of activity?

BTW, this behavior has been going on for at least a year.

[wiccabrat]

Honestly, they're all different. I have one who basically refuses to swim, she'll sputter her way to the top for air but that's it. She won't even go for food usually just waits for something to sink. Then I have 2 who swim all day long, around and around, and 2 somewhere in the middle, they swim some but not alot. I think lazy has alot to do with it. I know mine are all healthy so it must just be individuality.

[tammi]

I agree they all have different personalities. I have one that is a swimmer swims constanly and is real graceful. Then I have one who swims but looks like he is frantic but he gets around fine.

[rsour24]

tammi ur turtles sound funny haha, mine is a combination of all of those, kinda ADD haha