All Turtles Message Board

kidzncatz · Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 2

I have a baby red eared slider (well, he's about six months old.) He is in a 30 gallon tank filled about 1/2 full. He has a basking platform, a basking light (UVa& UVb), plus a long florescent type light. He has always been a very very active swimmer and spends not a lot of time basking.

A couple of weeks ago his basking light died. I could not find a replacement (one with UVb) for a couple of weeks. I made due with a UVa bulb I found at Petsmart. In that time without his light he didn't bask at all. He was still extremely active, swimming a lot and his appetite was normal.

We just replaced his basking bulb and cut some of the screen out of the cover so the uv rays wouldn't be blocked at all. We bought him a new heater because the old one would not get the temp past 73 degrees. Also, while this was going on, I had him in a separate container (which is not new to him. I have often fed him in a separate container.) At any rate, he would not eat a thing the entire time I had him in there. I tried his standard frozen turtle food. I tried to floating sticks. I tried meal worms (his favorite, which he doesn't get often due to the fat content.) I tried krill. He wouldn't eat anything.

Now he's back in his tank and he's just swimming and swimming and paying no attention to the basking light. He used to enjoy basking and poke his little legs way out. He wouldn't stay there long (if I walked in he would jump into the water in hopes of being fed) but he *did* do it.

I recently read that a happy healthy aquatic turtle will spend MOST of it's time basking. While my turtle appears healthy I am concerned that he is not getting out and drying off. He may be doing when I'm not around but everytime I see him he's swimming around like a maniac.

So.... sorry for the long post here but I'm starting to get concerned about him. I "saved" him from some idiot at a flea market who was selling him (his sibling died of respiratory problems.) Our local Wild Rescue folks and the DNR know that I have him (they are illegal to keep in the state of IN) and I feel it is a huge responsiblity to care for him. Any thoughts? Am I being ultraparanoid? He's BEAUTIFUL and has trippled in size since the time I've had him. Somebody "talk me down" (I'm worried Smile

Thanks in advance for your input.

dixieee · Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject:

if he's eating and swimming don't worry ur guy is fine it's just bcz of the change. he'll get used to it don't worry Smile

btw, excess basking is a concern but not basking is not that bad except for some shell problems. he'll be fine if u make him feel so. maybe u'll have to show him how to get on the basking area and how the new light is as good as the old one Smile

good luck and keep us posted
_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

kidzncatz · Guest Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 2

I think I was overeacting and I'm thinking the water temp might have played a big part too. The water is back up to 80, he is eating, AND I caught him on his basking dock (he wasn't basking but he *was* on it.) He's back to his old "snapper" self- stalking me when I walk near the tank and begging. Thanks again for your reply. It's so nice to have found this site to reference. I get nervous because due to the fact that he is illegal there are no vets licensed to treat him if he were to get ill.

Thanks again,
Amy

dixieee · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 6:40 pm Post subject:

anytime

glad to know he's fine now Very Happy

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u