General Care Discussion :: Basking issues/worries? - Update

[TheComputerGremlin]

So, since I wasn't happy with my previous basking area, I made that plexiglass one, that I'm quite proud of. Problem is, Mikey doesn't seem to like it! We've had it for ... 2 or 3 months now, and we've rarely caught him basking. It's accessible, we have seen him on it. It's just that he doesn't seem interested in basking.

I've checked the temps, originally they were 85 (but the bulb burnt out, replaced it with a 60 W house bulb), now they are 95. We saw him bask at both temps, he just doesn't seem interested. Should I try different wattages to see if it's the temps he doesn't like?

I don't know how to make it better!?! I know what the standard advice is, but I think now I'm working on advanced troubleshooting ...

[steve]

Is it clear on the bottom? I think it was Breigh who had one that was clear and it was seldom used by her turts. She replaced it with corkbark (I think) and had much better results.

[zoologist]

thanks for posting this, JAX. i have the same problem.

the substrate for my dock is sand....

[TheComputerGremlin]

Lemme find my photos of my basking area. The bottom is technically clear, but it's covered in rocks. We have seen him up there, he just seems to prefer digging around the bottom.









Yes, I know there is still a screen on the tank, it's a necessary evil for the time being. I have caught my cats up there (frequently) and the screen's barely holding them. Once we move to a house, I'll be able to mount the lights and remove the screen ...

[steve]

I might try a different material. Bark or tile can absorb some warmth from the basking light, so that might make it more enticing. I'm not sure if it's possible, but it could be too much visual stimulation? I usually keep my tanks almost completely bare.

[TheComputerGremlin]

It definitely could be, though I don't think it would be much different than the bottom, and he loves those glass things at the bottom of the tank. The glass absorbs a good amount of heat, the surface is comfortable to my touch, so that would make it around 90 degrees.

Before, I had a basket filled with rocks. He only seemed to be up there occasionally too. Before that (when he was in a 3 gallon tank, before I found this site), he had a basking rock that he wasn't interested in either. He would always finagle his way to being half in, half out of the water.

That's an idea, what if he's more interested in having part of his shell submerged? I know they are supposed to be able to completely dry off, but maybe he doesn't want to? I've seen the river RES who are still a little submerged. He seems to be that kind of turtle ... I've got some suction cup soapdishes in there, which he does the superman pose on, even though he's completely in the water. I've set one up so it's just submerged and see if he's liking that more. I should be able to easily modify my existing basking area to tilt it so part is in the water, if he likes the soapdishes like that.

[steve]

It couldn't hurt to move the basking light toward the edge, to draw him in easier. I'd try covering the sides too, some turts need more privacy than others.

[packfan1]

Do I understand that your water temp is around 90? Or is the basking area from those glass things in the basking area 90? From what I have read, the water temp and the basking temp should be at least 10 degrees different, water being the colder. I use a zoo-med basking ramp and my guys love it.

[TheComputerGremlin]

packfan1 - My water temp is 76 and my basking temp is 95. I believe my surface temp of my basking platform is 90 due to how it feels to my touch.

[TheComputerGremlin]

The little snot is making me eat my words. In the last four days, he's been basking as much as he can, I constantly see him up there! And no, it's not an unhealthy level of basking, he's probably up there about 2 hours a day over the course of a couple trips. He's very skitterish when basking and jumps off if anyone (cats included) walk in the room. Hopefully he'll start to feel more comfortable and spend more time up there.

Thanks for the help!

[grey goose]

I think it may be a cat problem.....your turt may be basking blissfully until the cat jumps up and scares the crap out of him. This may be why he is reluctant to bask.....

[mat012]

My tuck didnt seem to like to bask either. Since I put him in the new tank with the new basking dock we have caught him jumping off. Mainly he basks during the day when we are gone. When I come home I always hear a splash now. Too funny. I also tried putting crickets on the dock for a day or two to entice him to use it. It worked I think. That or he was using it already and that just gave him extra incentive to hunt up there. I am really thrilled. He never used the floating dock (the type with the suction cups). I was starting to worry about it too. I would take him out occasionally to dry off but then he would get really stressed. So happy mine is just shy.

Maybe yours needs more shelter - plants or even cardboard on the outside of the tank. Could be just scared or you all and cats (as Grey Goose pointed out)