General Care Discussion :: RES Hatchling alone acting differently

[devorix]

Hello all,
I did have two RES hatchlings but the one came down with RI and didn't make it through the first antibiotic treatment. We didn't notice it until it was too late i guess. Now that the one hatchling (Bubba) is alone hes acting more skittish towards me when he used to be more friendly and curious. Did his behavior change because of the loss of the other hatchling? Just worried about him but so far he swims just fine and this is the first day alone. Since we got them a week ago they were together. Of course i will be checking on him this afternoon when I get home from work.

[devilduck]

Welcome! RES are shy and can sometimes take a while to adjust to change. Keep the water temperature up in the lower 80's and keep a close watch.

[devorix]

Yea, we have been keeping an eye on our baby Res. Today I don't know if he basked at all but he has been swimming all over his habitat but he's swimming towards the glass as if try to swim away. Also sometimes he will swim frantically digging up rock. But otherwise eating and swimming.

[steve]

Where is the tank? Does the turtle have any privacy?

[devorix]

The tank is in the den and yes there is a little bit of privacy but looking at getting another fake plant this weekend for more. Also thinking about moving the current plant over to basking area as there is places for him to hide underwater.

[devorix]

Update..
I did move the current plant this morning and he seems to be more content with where i put it. Move it from the corner to just in front of his basking spot so it covers and overhangs it. This morning after i gave him his Hatchiling pellets i caught him basking on his spot behind that foliage. Looks like hes starting to come around the more we are around as well. Just strange to me and i worry as he was all brave before the loss of Cali and now hes scared. I know this weekend i should gravel vac his tank and give him more fresh water but might just siphon some out and put new in.

[steve]

How big is the tank? Maybe you can set some water aside to expedite the water change.

[devorix]

The tank is a 20L turtle tank with the half glass on one side. Yea that's what I was thinking of doing. Getting the conditioned water ready beforehand.

[steve]

If the water temperature is the same, you could probably do a partial change rather than a complete change and with him still in the tank.

[devorix]

Thanks Steve I was looking at going that route but still getting the partial water conditioned first. Live in Arizona so if I do what i have been doing with the water i should be ok. What i have been doing is putting the conditioner in the water in a cooler and leaving it outside for a bit and the water temp comes out to be just about 78-80 degrees.

[steve]

We recommend using a carbon filter as opposed to using a conditioner that is a chemical additive. Does your filter take carbon media?

[devorix]

Yes I have a carbon filter and condition the water due to chlorine.

[steve]

The carbon will remove the chlorine or chloramines, no need to use an additional conditioner

[devorix]

Hmm did not know that. What about hard water? Should I worry too much about that?

[steve]

It's usually not bad enough to be concerned. Is that an issue with your tap?