General Care Discussion :: Escaped!

[wisperin9 shad0s]

So I was taking care of a red eared slider for about half a year before giving it to my boyfriend. Now the turtle Tuttles resides in a 20 gallon tank, equipped with white pebbles, a fake log for a hiding place, a heater, a basking platform, and a 60 watt basking lamp.

Today, Tuttles escaped from his tank while my boyfriend was at his 9-5 job. My boyfriend found him on the bathroom floor, later.

So my question is, does the will to escape - because this has happened before - in a turtle indicate anything? In human children, running away means an unhappy home life. What does it mean in turtles, if anything?

Thanks =D

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Well,he could be unhappy.With maybe,the size of the tank!I don't know.Do you know how your turtle got out?You should probably put some eggcrate over the top of the tank.Oh,and you should probably take out the pebbles,unless they're pebbles bigger than the turtle's head.

[EmperorTunaFish]

Turtles are ridiculously good climbers. If they can get their front legs on it, they can probably get over it.

[javablog]

Bubble climbed out of his tank once but I found him shortly after. BTW I agree you need to get rid of the pebbles ASAP.

[wisperin9 shad0s]

Well,he could be unhappy.With maybe,the size of the tank!I don't know.Do you know how your turtle got out?You should probably put some eggcrate over the top of the tank.Oh,and you should probably take out the pebbles,unless they're pebbles bigger than the turtle's head.

Yea, I'll take away the gravel as soon as I can, ... and see if the pet store sells only the crate without the tank. Thanks. =)

[mackadocious]

i think it's totally normal for them to try to escape...patsy tries to escape every 2-6 months....lasts for a few days then she gives up again....only successful once but caught in the act halfway out twice before the tank was adequately secured...

[Raphulk]

...one day I came home and my mom told me my smallest turtle escaped from the tank, but she put him back....

to this day I still don't know how he got out

the only spot to get out is 6 inches high, and the turtle isnt even 3 inches shell length.....masterminds.

[EmperorTunaFish]

Must be the puppy chow.

[wisperin9 shad0s]

...one day I came home and my mom told me my smallest turtle escaped from the tank, but she put him back....

to this day I still don't know how he got out

the only spot to get out is 6 inches high, and the turtle isnt even 3 inches shell length.....masterminds.

LOL, that's amazing. xD

[TheComputerGremlin]

wisperin9 shad0s - First, 20 gallons is probably too small for the turtle. Even filled all of the way (which allows for escape attempts), that is good only for a 2 inch turtle. I'm going to guess that your turtle is getting bigger than that, if not already much surpassed it. The bigger the tank you can buy now, the less you will spend in the future upgrading.

Oh, and egg crate is sold at hardware stores, not pet stores, and it's sometimes called light diffuser. You will need to cut out pieces where the basking lights need to shine through because the bulbs will melt the plastic, I believe.

[aquitana]

My turtle got out a lot when she was trying to lay eggs. Since then, she hasn't gotten out. Is your turtle a female?

[Raphulk]

wow, okay, my smallest turtle got out AGAIN...I covered the spot that I thought he escaped from...apparently not...I made a couple changes and covered the new spot I think he may have escaped from..


if anybody's counting both of my turtles have escaped 2 times each...yay for inadequate housing

[nickyds23]

@ Raphulk

Maybe they're working as a team so that one can reach the top while standing onthe other's back.

[Raphulk]

that's what I thought initially, but Im pretty sure I know where my smallest got out

[Rosepruner]

Hahaha, mine made an escape attempt as well, I got a wire lid for the tank, and no more escaping, though that isn't from lack of trying to climb on EVERYTHING. I need a big tank, but for right now, he's going to have to live in a small tank, that's all I have room for right now. I'm moving in may, and then I'll be able to get a stock tank to put him in, and he'll be able to be outside for some real sun. Anyway, yeah, turtles are notorious escapees. Sometimes it has to do with tank size, more often then not it has to do with the fact that they LOVE to climb, and are naturally curious little creatures.