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I just discovered my ten gallon tank was at 86 degrees! I have not been able to move them into their twenty gallon long tank yet but this hasn't happened before. It is getting very hot (75 degrees at night) in South Jersey. I had my heater off too. I put an ice cube in there and turned the mini-oscalating fan on. Will my turtles be alright? It must have only been that way for thirty minutes or so (they were basking for most of the time, I believe).

They'll be ok. Just cool it down if you can. Was the heater running overtime or something?

No, I turned it off before it got too hot. I knew it was going to be hot tonight. It is most likely due to small tank-syndrome. The water is very easily fluctuated and I think the basking light in combination with the very warm temperatures caused it. I would love to set up their 20 gallon long tank (which was the defective uvb bulb, extra clamp lamp, and heater package in it) so stuff like this won't happen but I don't have a stand long enough yet. I really need to get this up and running.

It is sitting there on the floor still in cardboard protecting just mocking me . Thanks for the help, though.

That's the problem with the little tanks is they are more easily affected by the heat from the basking light. Try adding some cold water to cool it back down. They're probably staying on the basking ramp 'cause the water is too warm.

Thanks for the help. I got it down gradually and they seem to be fine.

Do a partial water change when the temp goes up like that. For a 10-gallon tank, it's not hard to lower the temp. You also could lower the wattage of the heat lamp when the weather is really warm.