Habitat - Indoor :: My turtle doesn' t like his turtle dock...

[kimberlyann_0629]

I bought my turtle a turtle dock, but he refuses to use it. I have tried putting him on it and he just jumps back in the water. He isn't scared of me and swims up to greet me when I go by his tank. I don't understand why he won't go on it. I am not sure if him being in the water 24/7 is healthy for him. Any suggestions on if there is a specific turtle dock he might like?

[cam722]

Sometimes when you get your turtle a new dock or make a major change to their habitat.. it takes sometime for them to get use to it. You might want to put some pellets up on it so that he'll go up there to get them and get use to going up on the dock.

What sort of dock is it? Is it easy for him to get on? Also, did you check the temperatures for the basking/dock area to make sure they are comfortable.. not too high/low?

[industrial_girl_2000]

What kind of basking light do you have for him? If it isn't warm enough on the dock, he may not feel like basking. Basking area should be 10 degrees F warmer than the water to encourage them to bask.

[kimberlyann_0629]

I bought the kit with the lamp and stuff. And then I got the floating turtle dock that extends into the water. The temperature in the water is about 75 and the basking area is 86ish. Seems to be right...

[cam722]

Some turtles like it a bit warmer than that.. maybe make it a bit higher, like 90ish. I know mine preferred it a lot warmer.. they really loved it around 92.

[FanOfTurts]

Yeah....my turtles DON'T bask when my heat lamp is not on. They like it when the basking area is about 10°F warmer than the water. My water temp is 78° F at all times, so my heat lamp has to be on in order for them to bask.

[steve]

What did they have before? Will he follow a trail of up there?