Other Turtle Discussion

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:12 pm **Floating**

My baby RES, Bubbles, sort of floats while he swims. He moves his legs and stuff, but his shell sort of... floats. Is that bad? My other turtle, Bubbli doesn't float.

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:50 pm

Can Bubbles sink to the bottom of the tank? Can he swim under water?

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:55 pm

Bubbles can sink to the bottom of the tank and he can swim underwater... Is that good?

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:12 pm

Yes, that is a good sign! It's when they can't swim under the water that there is cause for concern.

What is your water temp? How deep is your water? If it is deeper, as it should be with your turts, do you have a place for them to rest on? Tall plants or a large rock, etc.

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 7:34 pm

Yes, Bubbles doesn't sound like he has a problem. If he tried to swim or go under water but couldn't, it could mean a number of things, none of them good.

Babies can spend a lot of time "floating." If Bubbles is active, basks and eats well, I don't think you have a problem.

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:50 pm

the water emp is usually around 80 degrees, and its about 2 in. deep... thank you for the help!!

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:50 pm

but bubbles doesn't eat that muchh... i guess its bcuz i just got him and he's new...

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:25 pm

You water should be more than 2 inches deep. 10 gallons per inch of shell, and fill it up to the point that they can't escape over the edge. I have a 75 gallon and it is about 5 inches from the top.

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:30 pm

oh okay. thank you! what do u mean to the point that they can't escape over the edge? if the water is high, wouldn't it be easier for them 2 escape out? thank you for the help

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:27 pm

If they escape, they'll probably do it by climbing on the basking area. So make sure the basking area isn't too high.
Mine was, but since I have a 10 gallon I didn't want to lower it. I taped some index card to the tank like a fence.

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:37 am

Think about how long your turtle is and then length of legs and arms stretched out. (Just kind of eyeball it) That is how much space you should have between the basking area and the top of your tank, or the water line and the top of your tank. Anything higher and your turt can get his claws around the edge and hoise himself out. I think in another post that you mentioned a 10 gallon tank. Fill it so there is about 4-5 inches left at the top. You should be good to go. I don't know that I would trust the index cards on two levels. One, if my turts wanted, they'd just push them over. Second, with all of the lighting I have around that area, I'd worry that the paper would catch on fire, especially if it got to close to a light.

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:39 pm

Bubbles could do with at least several more inches of water in the tank...

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2006 11:00 pm

i added more water and now bubles and blubbli are swimming around happily. thank you guys for the help!

Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:09 pm

my turtle Bi Bi can flow but my other turtle Fi Fi doesnt. she always stay at the bottom..is it bad for her not flowin? and how can u tell if the turtle is a male of a female? i hv a dark green and a light-yellow green turtles.

Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 9:12 pm

Unless your turtles are 4 inches, you won't be able to tell the sex. Males have a thicker tale, and longer front claws. Floating is not a good thing if the turtle can't go under the water at all. Any other symptopms?

Why don't you start a new post completely and tell us all about your set up that you have for your two turts?

Other Turtle Discussion :: Floating

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