General Care Discussion :: Turtle not basking

[grem89]

I just got my turtle 3 weeks ago from a run down pet store. All of the turtles had shell rot, so I got one in hopes that he would get better. His shell rot is doing much better. It is dried and scabbing up. I have been cleaning it with povidone iodine and forcing him to bask in a box with a heat lamp and UVB lamp. Besides when I take him out of the tank, he never basks on his own. I have tried turning the tank heater down, and now it is about 72 degrees, but no luck on him basking. I have the heat lamp about 8 inches from the his basking area. Also, I covered the basking area in case he was just a little shy. He doesn't seem sick at all, and eats as much as I give him. He also catches fish himself and eats the water plants I put in the tank, so I do not think he is sick. Any suggestions as to why he doesn't bask besides maybe the poor conditions he was in at the store, or how to get him to bask on his own?

[Raphulk]

blueberries increase the turtles want to bask sometimes. you can try that.

[Daniel3507]

how hot is the basking area?

[Turtlebiz]

the basking area temp should be at least 10 degrees warmer than the water to entice the turtle to bask. a good basking temp is between 90 and 95 degrees. so i would check the basking temp. what kind of heat source do you use?

[grem89]

The water temp was around 78 and I turned it down to around 74. The basking area is from 90-92 degrees. I have both a heat and uvb lamp.

[grem89]

Here are some pictures of my turtle. He had shell rot when I first got him in a circle pattern around his shell. He also climbed out of the box that I had him in on the window sill in the sun the first week that I had him. I hadn't realized that he would be able to climb 2 feet vertically up a towel. That won't happen again, but that's what happened to the one scute on his left side. Does it look like it's healing? It's not white or red anymore, and looks like it dried out which I believe happens when it heals. Also, the bottom of his shell was very red and had some shell rot on it when I got him.

[grem89]

any help?

[steve]

I have a run-down of requirements: www.redearslider.com/basking.html

The constant dry-docking could be adding a level of stress that does not quickly subside. That could interfere with her comfort level. If the setup is still relatively new for her, she might also be adjusting to it.

I'm also curious to know what you're using for a UVB bulb and the basking light.

[MEL]

When I moved my turtle to a bigger aquarium, she didn't bask for almost three weeks. I did research on why she wasn't basking and from what I read, when their habitats/environments are changed, they have to get used to it and may not bask for a while. As long as it hasn't been over a month, then I wouldn't worry. Your turtle will soon get used to his new habitat and start to bask. As long as he's eating, then everything should be ok. Don't force anything yet.

[Azfar]

YEs, dats right MEL... my turtles also takes about 2 weeks to get used to their new basking area (do some renovation) which I made for them.. huhu.. now they love to bask!