General Care Discussion :: Hoping this is just stress that will pass... but...

[TurtleLou]

Hello, folks,

Hoping someone here can alleviate my concerns

I've got a RES who's about 4.5" long. Yesterday, (July 24, 2006), I moved him from his 10 gallon tank, yes, yes... I know... WAY too small... hence why he's been moved Anyway... I moved him into his new 75 gallon tank.

He swam around for awhile... quite a long while actually, hehehe... but then spent all his time sleeping on the bottom of his tank, ate VERY little... and normally he's quite the lil' piggy and he keeps his eyes closed... even when he's swimming he keeps his eyes closed quite a bit.

When I had gotten home and was preparing his new tank he was behaving normally in his 10 gallon tank.

So, is this just stress? I seem to remember him behaving similarly when he was a wee tiny tot and I first got him. I just don't seem to remember the sleeping and keeping the eyes closed when he was swimming. He wouldn't eat or move around much... but he wasn't sleeping back then

I appreciate any insight you can give me on this.

Oh, the tank is "darker" since the only light is the one he has for basking from his old tank... and yes it's a UVA/UVB combo bulb... and I suspect the water is colder since there's so much more of it... so I'm not sure if these are contributing to this behavior.

Thanks,
Lou

[sonyj]

What is the exact water temp? If it is too cold he will become lethargic. His water should be between 72-75 degrees. If you don't already have one, get a fully submersible heater and a couple of thermometers to keep an eye on the basking and water temps.

Also, it is somewhat normal for a turtle to need time to adjust to new surroundings. Did you dechlorinate the water? If not, chlorine could irritate his eyes causing them to be closed.

[samandnelly]

It also might need some more vital vitamins. I'd get cuttlebone and a calcium turtle.

[TurtleLou]

Thanks for the insight folks.

I cam home from work today and he seems his normal self... was basking and then when I got home started swimming around

His eyes aren't closed anymore either. I'm wondering if maybe the Amquel hadn't had a chance to sufficiently clean up the water before I put him into the tank, DOH !!

He seems fine now... eyes open, swimming around... even digging at his rocks again... not to worry... the rocks are the bigger kind that he can't swallow... all bigger than his head

Probably a combination of adjusting to the tank, maybe being colder than he's used to, though now it's up to proper temp, and the water not being "clean" enough from chlorine before I put him in.

I feel better now watching him... lil' bugger is even begging for food now <chuckle>

Thanks again.

Take care,
Lou

[samandnelly]

Congrats! You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Haha

[missibsu]

I bet he is just loving his new set up now! I remember when I got my 75 gallon, and I'm already looking at expanding again. My guess on the lathargy was a combination of the tank not being quite ready (temps and chlorine) and your turtle needing time to adjust. Glad he's doing good.