Habitat - Indoor :: video of my hatchling

[res08]

just got him/her yesterday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqWpgDsF2Vk

[LadyClovenhoof]

She/he is adorable!! I wish I had been able to get my turtle as a baby.

[marisa]

Very sweet. What are you using for a basking area, though? It might be fine for a larger turtle, but seems to be a bit laborious for the little one to climb (especially that last step to the very top). There's a smooth section that had no traction for him to use to climb up and he seemed to have difficulty moving on to the next level (using aquarium silicone to stick strips/something there would help).

I was hoping I wouldn't have to see the descent, but the video ended when he tried to get down that first step and sort of fell to the next level, clunking the back of his head with his shell.

Can you get him a basking area, at least until he grows a bit, that's easier for him to climb? One that has a more gradual incline and/or smaller steps for him to climb?

[BullDog]

My goodness he is cute!!!

I agree with Marisa though. He seems to be able to get up with a bit of effort, but that first step coming down is a doosy!
Perhaps you can fashion a ramp for going up and down that you can put over top of the stairs?

I'm also a bit concerned about that hole in the middle. Once he gets a little bigger, that looks just the right size for a turtle head to get stuck in!

[donchewliano]

Very cute. I wish we had Hurley when he was a hatchling.
and agreed on the previous comments. That first drop is a bit much him/her right now.

[res08]

I'm using a Tetra Basking Buoy as his basking area. I was concerned about that smooth area too so I might get a strip of wood as an extra step. I don't think silicone would stick to the plastic, though.

That hole is only 1/4" deep and cone shaped. No chance he can get stuck. I've posted pics of it in the photo gallery http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15261

[BullDog]

Oh, ok, I see the hole now. From the vid it looked like it went all the way through or something

For the silicon, it looks like it might stick to that type of plastic. It looks like it is rough enough.
I'd be wary of wood though, since it will get wet, and can go mouldy quickly.

[marisa]

You can roughen up the area. I think aquarium silicone would stick, and I don't think he'd be able to pull it off with this weight at this point because he's so small.

I wouldn't use regular or treated wood either. Perhaps a small strip of corkbark (which you most likely don't have on hand) or a strip like what you'd use to keep from slipping in the bathtub (cut it to size). That last step to the top is still too much for him right now, though.

[turtlelover818]

cute