Other Turtle Discussion :: Adjusting to a new tank

[chrysnyc]

I just moved my turtle Henry from a 29 gallon tank to a 55 gallon tank. This means there is a lot more swimming room. Just a little background I bought him maybe a month or so ago, he's approximately 4 inches in length, and the pet store had him in about 2 to 3 inches of water. Now I have him in a 55 gallon about 2/3 full about 6 inches from the top. I notice instead of sleeping in the water like he used to he is propping himself up between his to floating docks with his head out of the water. It does not look like a very comfortable position. Is it possible that the water is too deep, and he is not used to having to swim so far to reach the surface for air? Do you guys think I need to lower the water level or will he get used to it eventually? Thanks guys.

[steve]

I moved my turts from a 40 gallon plastic tub to a 120 gallon tank and they've never had problems adjusting. To be honest, I think I kept them in their old tank too long, but they were was no adjustment problems regarding water levels. A 4" RES should be OK in what you described, I would just keep a lookout for areas that he might get stuck in. My turts usually sleep at the bottom of the tank and surface for a breather, or sleep on the area of their basking platform that is completely submerged (but only a couple of inches deep).

A depth of 6-7 inches should not be a problem, however you might want to put some large rocks in there so he can surface abit easier.

[bradhart]

I've heard that turts sleep on the bottom. Mine will sleep in a afke plant on the side. All submerged except the tip of his nose.

[bradhart]

and I have mine in 11 inches of water. Why do poeple put less water than the max? (Just enough so the turt can't escape that it)

[chrysnyc]

Just to clarify the water is approximately 12 or more inches deep, what I was saying was the water level is approximately 6 inches from the top of the tank. Like you said bradhart just enough so he can't escape. Last night he actually slept on the submerged part of the floating dock, so I'm not too worried. I'll probably take your advice Steve and add some large rocks to assist him. My concern was that because the pet store had kept in so little water for who knows how long, that he may not have learned how to swim as well as other turtles. Thank you for your advice.

[TexasJagsFan]

Mine usually sleeps next to the dock, completely submerged except for his head. Sometimes he has his claws gripped onto the side.

[chrysnyc]

Phew, thanks I just wanted to make sure my turtle was not the only one. Last night he did sleep on the bottom of the tank, so I'm assuming some nights he feels like sleeping in the water and sometimes he feels like sleeping out of the water. Thank you for replying and reassuring me that nothing is wrong.