General Care Discussion :: My turtle forgot how to swim

[iac637]

So as many of you know I just bought a new African Sideneck thats about 6+ inches long. Well I set up his new 75 gallon tank and put in about 51 gallons of water. I put in on the basking rock and he slide into that water and sank. He sat on the bottomand kind of scrambled around the bottom. He had forgotten how to swim. Well it had been about 10 minutes and I was about to grab him and all of the sudden he made it to the surface. After a hour he was swimming fine. He had been kept in such little water that he had forgotten how to swim.

I know that stores can not always keep them in the best of conditions they try to move the animals a fast as they can but couldn't they make conditions a little better.

[steve]

Its also possible he was a bit scared in a new environment. How long would you estimate that he wasn't allowed to swim properly?

[iac637]

at least 3 weeks because thats how long I watched him at the pet store before impulse buying him

[iac637]

I forgot though he was in the back with an eye fungus for 2 weeks and only had 2 in of water per Dr orders to that 5 weeks at least

[DavidY]

he he, watching him for 3 weeks isn't what I'd call impulse buying.

[iac637]

well true but it was the first time I took him out of the tank and I bought him at 9 pm at night

[Spookster]

Yeah that sounds more like turtle stalking.

[iac637]

yeah well you know I had to think hard and then I had to tlak my boyfriend into it but that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.....lol

[kikicool]

As an animal lover... it never is as hard as you think it's going to be, talking someone into getting a pet. In fact, what's even easier, I've found, is talking them into KEEPING the pet once it's there

[iac637]

Very true I try not to spring that on him though...... He is a funny guy.

[kiwigerman]

my turtle George was in a 10 gallon tank for the first 4 years (previous owner). when i put him in a larger tank he had great difficulty swimming too. and just like iac, just when i thought maybe i should pull him out he swam to the surface. now he's a great swimmer!

[iac637]

He is doing much better now at swimming. My boyfriend cought him basking yesterday while I was at work I was very excited. He loves to float though.