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Hello All!

Sadly, after 4 years, our turtle Iris passed away. She was sick when we got her (from the pet store) and we nursed her back to health the first 2 months (even gave her shots in the armpit to get rid of a respiratory infection!). She also never grew in those 4 years, so who knows how old she was… But she went peacefully, sleeping in the bottom of the tank.

After a short mourning period, the empty aquarium started to feel weird, so we ordered a new turtle, Juno! She's a 2-year old Eastern Painted Turtle that we got from turtlesource [not reputable].com.



We've read up as much as we can about the painted turtles, and they seem pretty similar to RESs, but we've got a couple questions regardless:

She hasn't done any basking out of the tank. As you can see from the pics, I've put some significant time into building a custom basking platform (bent acrylic covered in terrarium carpet). About as close as she gets is sticking her face out of the water and hanging out on the platform.




Any way to entice her to bask? It's been a couple weeks now … our old RES would have been nutso over a platform like that and been up there for hours. I've also heard some turtles will only partially bask or bask in the water. Can anyone with a painted back that up? I figure we'll just give her enough time and it will work itself out, she's still occasionally skiddish, esp. if she's close to being out of the water.

Is it possible that the ramp has too much of an incline? The basking area has to be easy as possible to enter for them to bask. Too much of an inlcine could make it not get enough traction to get up their in the first place. Other than that turtles have different personalities and some just take longer than others to go investigate their new basking area. Also covering the atba around the sides would make the turtle feel more comfortable and safe, therefore making the turtle more likely to bask. Another tip is that the basking area should be about ten degrees higher than the water temp for the turtle to bask. That's all I can think of for right now. I hope I helped a little,

Sorry to hear about Iris

I agree about covering the sides. To test the incline, try luring the painted up there with food.

To me, Eastern Painteds are more skittish than RES. That looks like a long way to climb to get to an area that's exposed and offers no privacy. Try putting some aquarium background around the basking area. Also, does the carpet offer enough "grip" to allow your turtle to climb it?

we'll try a little more privacy around the outside of the basking area. temperature is good. I moved both the lights to end of the tank so when she's over there she's getting more benefit. Every now and then we'll come out of our bedroom and hear a 'sploosh' so she might be sneaking up there more often now! (maybe I'll set up a cam, lol)

The carpet is very 'grippy' and from the other behavior I've seen out of Juno, navigating that ramp should be a piece of cake. It's much easier than the platform we had for our last turtle. (turtle dock attached to acrylic platform)

Anyone have any ideas for privacy other than that aquarium 'wrap' that they sell at the pet store? IMO its really ugly ... (I know that it should be for the turtle's sake, but it's right in the middle of our living room, it's gotta look good)

Just normal aquarium backing like this kind http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3904531
Also putting it on the tank itself gives a nice appearance.

ok, well it was feeding time tonight, and my wife and I tried luring her up on to the platform with an ET-style trail of pellets and veggies.

Results:
1. Juno can get up and down the platform quite easily.
2. She's really not a big fan of being up there. She would JUST get enough of her body out of the tank and then pull the piece of food back into the water. With the farthest piece, this meant coming all the way out, grabbing it, and then jumping back in the water. Regardless, this was HILARIOUS to watch, and it's pretty obvious she doesn't feel comfortable up there.

I guess I'll put my brain on some kind of 'privacy' setting for her.

Ranger - yeah, that's the stuff that we think looks kind of tacky. (apologies to anyone who uses it in there setup) I might try some of this:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=3985619

or this:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752523

and add more fake plants, etc. Try to make it look natural, while still being fake. Do you think I should try to cover all 4 sides? That's kind of a bummer for turtle viewing, but if it is healthier for her, I'll do it! (While I complete my plans for the mega indoor pond)

Thanks everyone for the help!

If it's covering the front of the tank, just use something light and opaque.

Success! So, she must just be getting used the the environment. I was walking past the living room today and Juno was full-on basking on her rock. So I stopped in my tracks and tip-toed into my office.

Will still work on making the ATBA a little more skiddish-turtle friendly, but at least I know she goes up there, and probably does when we are gone!

A tip if you don't want to cover all 4 sides of the atba... put some plants inside the atba that will partially cover the front of it. it offers privacy but doesn't completely block the viewing.

good idea Karawr!

well, I wanted to pop in and say thank you to everyone who offered advice, it all helped Juno become accustomed to her new home.



Still had to take this pic with a long lens, but we can now walk by the tank without her freaking out. The most she'll do is pull her head in to her shell. It feels good to build something for your pet and actually have them use it. Cheers!

She's a very nice looking EP.

that's a really nice looking turtle man! im glad your basking area attempts worked out. i would liike to do something like that. what method did you use to get the platform to stick on the tank and stay put? also, may be a newbie question but what is atba? area to be avoided?

steamd rice wrote:that's a really nice looking turtle man! im glad your basking area attempts worked out. i would liike to do something like that. what method did you use to get the platform to stick on the tank and stay put? also, may be a newbie question but what is atba? area to be avoided?

Hey, this one I know! "ATBA" = Above Tank Basking Area!

To the OP, wow you have built a great tank, the ATBA is really cool. Juno is super lucky to have you as a mom (and my condolences about Iris).

Once again, I'm wishing I'd found this forum/site before I planned/ordered/ bought my custom tank for Trevor, I would've had it built with an ATBA. I may have to figure out something to make it happen myself.

Trevor's_Mom wrote:

steamd rice wrote:that's a really nice looking turtle man! im glad your basking area attempts worked out. i would liike to do something like that. what method did you use to get the platform to stick on the tank and stay put? also, may be a newbie question but what is atba? area to be avoided?

Hey, this one I know! "ATBA" = Above Tank Basking Area!

To the OP, wow you have built a great tank, the ATBA is really cool. Juno is super lucky to have you as a mom (and my condolences about Iris).

Once again, I'm wishing I'd found this forum/site before I planned/ordered/ bought my custom tank for Trevor, I would've had it built with an ATBA. I may have to figure out something to make it happen myself. [/quote

lol thanks. i cant wait to build mine