General Care Discussion :: Sleeping in basking on land

[joeybsmooth]

I have a baby turt and he does not go into the water that much even to sleep. The water is always around 78-76 in temp. But he even sleeps up top.

[taylor_a]

When I first got my turtle all he did was sleep up on his basking dock. How long have you had your turtle? Mine did it for a good 5 ish days.

Also for a hatchling water temps should be slightly higher -- between 78 and 80*.

[Bascomb]

joe-smooth -- Let us know about your set up; size of tank, filtration, temps, lighting etc. How large is your turtle

[joeybsmooth]

A while now like a few 4 or 5 weeks. So I should add another heater are want. TO get the time up.

[joeybsmooth]

I ten gal he is about one inch. I have both types of lights, and I can not remember the name of my filter.

[SpotsMama]

When turtles don't feel good they get lethargic. This means they lack energy. Sometimes they want to bask all the time. I'm wondering if your turtle is sick.

Does he have any other symptoms - swollen eyes or rubbing his eyes a lot, yawning a lot or breathing with his mouth open, mucus around the mouth or nose, poor appetite?

[1981camaroz28]

I have 2 smaller turtle that have been sleeping out of water for 2 years now and they are very healthy. Turtles do have there own personality maybe yours just likes sleeping out of water. But post what everyone is asking ( size of tank, filtration, temps, lighting ) Also post a picture if you don't have a camera use a cell phone a bad picture is better than none. Good Luck

[joeybsmooth]

Here is my set up.

10 gal ( I am just out of school , waiting to get a JOB to change that)
filtration, No clue what the name of it is.
temps, 76-78 ( tring to find a way to rise it)
lighting Both types of lights.

PS I gave him some Shrimp the other day and my roommate said he was swimming around lot ,after that. But it still spends most of his time up there.

[Tenodera]

Does it open mouth-breathe?

My late Tobiko used to spend all his time basking, and he was suspected to be sick.

[joeybsmooth]

how can I tell if he open mouth breathes?

[marisa]

His mouth would be open while he was breathing on the basking area (you'd likely see the neck moving in and out); frequent yawning would also be a sign pointing to respiratory problems.

What's the temp of the water and basking area?

How much of a current or how much turbulence does the water falling into the tank cause? Perhaps it's too much for him.

[res08]

Where did you get that long ramp?

[joeybsmooth]

I got the Ramp from Pet's Mark

And he is not mouth-breathing .

And the H2) temp is around 78-80 .

[Take-One]

Nice setup! My Yertle will bask on the dock If I leave the light on. I would be worried. She just might like basking!

[Bumby's Mom]

You definitely need to get some fake plants in there to suction on the sides of the tank or he can drown.