All Turtles Message Board

Bubonic · Level 2 Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 81

It's pretty sad to look at really.
Thor keeps swimming against his filter, climbing on it, trying to get under it... Doesn't bite at it, and it isn't his only point of focus but it seems to predominate.

He spends a lot of time swimming against the aquarium wall these days, trying to get out.

He wasn't able to get onto his zoo med turtle dock, so I bought a zilla jumbo rock den that can be climbed up with a bit of effort.
He's climbed it, but then gets right back off.

He doesn't bask. He just waddles around, sits with his head out of the water, or does the thing were he is swimming against the filter and digging away at nothing.

It's stressing me out to see my turtle in such distress, if it were summer I'd contemplate flinging him in a river or lake... Probably would die, but I'd image he'd be happier for that amount of time.

ryanandsuzyro · Level 3 Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 207

Don't worry too much yet, bud. I know, I did it when I was a new turtle owner. Thor has just been through a heck of a move. Give him TIME to get accustomed to his new environment. Turtles are known to dig and root and re-arrange things in their tank. He is not necessarily stressed because he is pushing against his filter or swimming against the side of the tank.

Give him a few weeks, a month. He may not feel comfortable basking with somebody around. I think many people on this board could tell you that they had the same worry but eventually caught their turtle in mid-bask (only for the thing to dive into the water). He might be basking when you're not there.

He will dig, he will explore, he will root, but give him TIME to get comfortable. I know it's hard when you think something is WRONG and want him to stop, but give him time. Keep your eye open for any real medical concerns + symptoms (austinsturtlepage has a good health section) but otherwise, let him get comfy.

Bubonic · Level 2 Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 81

I pretty much replied to some of this in my other worrisome thread lol.
But yah, just today I caught him basking.

I'm such a dork, I basically froze for ten minutes until he jumped in the water!

I saw him bask about 6 times today, 4 of the times were about 15 minutes, the other 2 I'm not sure, he was on when I left for class, and he was on when I came back 3 hours later.

I will take some pictures over the weekend, just need to remind my girlfriend to bring her camera, and set it to high res pictures.

He's got a couple of white spots on his back that worry me, they aren't soft, stinky, or removable with my nail, I saw them before, but now his "scute" sp? came off over it and its more noticeable.

Anyways, sorry about the throwing him in the river comment, I was just depressed about it all! Embarassed

garothmaan · Level 1 Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 10

Hey I had the same problem, then I just freed them in my room as if they were on their own and voila...... it worked. You see all living being wanna be on their own except that some of them need tending for food and water. no need for clothing for these although.. but shelter for sure and love and care too.

regds
garothmaan