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I've noticed as I take my turtles to their tub out in the backyard, that two turtles can't swim on their own. Alls they do is scratch and paw at the edges, but they can't float by their own. I saw that those turtles are totally dependent on the basking rock and the plants to breathe, float, and swim. I tried letting them swim in the outdoor tub without the rock in it. They swam fine after a while, but once they got back inside they became dependent on the basking rock once again. What do I do?

What kind of tub are you using and how much water is in there? Normally, they just don't "float" all the time..

How big are the turtles? Is there any strong current from the filter?

Two turtles are barely 3 inches and the other one a little over 2 1/2 inches. I am currently using one of the small Rubbermaid tubs (about the size of a ten gallon tank) filled all the way up because I put it in the ground as if it were a pond. Indoors the current in the tank is sizeable when put in max, but since I have it at minimum, the current isn't as strong as to overpower a swimming turtle.

i have noticed that in general turts are lazy. and if they can swim fine out side they can swim inside. but maby in your case it is just more convient for them to push off and climb on things. example i just got my second baby lilly 6.5 inch res and when i put her in her new enviroment and she had a hard time for a while due to the fact that she was in a verry shallow pond before she moved to my place. she was used to standing on her back legs and strech out to breath. well at my place the water is about 2 feet deep, and she had to swim it didnt look good at first but after about an hour she was doing fine. i thinkyou have a case of lazzy turts hahaha. just my 2 cents for what its worth but i think that is the case.

fish