General Care Discussion :: Possibly silly question

[Amber]

I got my RES a few days ago, and he very rarely seems to go in the water. He has a heater in the water, and it is at 78 degrees F, but he just seems to spend all his time basking, I'm not sure if this is something I should worry about?

I have seen him in the water briefly a few times, so I know he can get into and back out of the water.

[AnnAllmighty]

Well, you said you got him a couple of days ago, so he could be shy. Unless theres something wrong with your water, it seems like he's just shy. He probably swims when your not around.

[Sgt. Pepper]

That's odd, usually it's the other way around. How big is he? When he does swim does he seem to have trouble? Does he gasp a lot when he's out of the water?

[Amber]

He is about 2" maybe a little smaller, he can swim fine, I have moved him into the water a few times now to check, and he always finds his way back to his basking spot quickish.

He seems healthy, but it seems a bit odd?

[TheComputerGremlin]

Are you absolutely sure of the water temps? If you are going off of the little sticky thermometers that you put on the sides of a tank, it could be not registering correctly. Make a measurement with a digital thermometer to be sure.

[grey goose]

Does he stay on the basking ramp even after the lights go out? Constant basking or lethargy could be a sign of trouble.......is he eating?

[Amber]

I haven't seen him eating, but I think he might be eating bits of food sneakily.

Last night when I turned his lamp off, he went into the water to sit by his heater, and my boyfriend saw he was swimming a bit this morning, so I am not as worried.

Thanks!

[Tenodera]

Does he breathe with mouth open? Are his eyes big and swollen?

Usually turtles with either of these symptoms refuse to go into the water.

[Bascomb]

If your turtle is healthy, the only reason I could see is if the basking light is not warm enough. That should be about 90 to 91 degrees with a uvb lighting. They like the difference between the temps. Keep an eye out for RI symptoms and make sure the water is very clean.

[Chrisbarnett]

I agree w/ computer gremlin. Check the water temps with a digital thermometer, or a glass aquarium thermometer. If the water is to cold, he's not gonna wanna be in it, and would rather be where it is warmer, hence the basking all the time.