All Turtles Message Board

BROOKLYN

As some of you might know, I have recently changed a whole new lifestyle for my 11-12 years old RES (male). I decided to spice up the his new home by covering the 29G tank with a background. However, now the RES seems to be fighting himself a lot by thinking there's another RES that's trying to take over his terrority (only happens when I turn on the light which then triggers an image of himself). Of course, living most of his life in a Rubbermaid, I've never seen this kind of aggression before. I don't mind about if it didn't put himself in danger but at times, he bites himself Laughing

around his front claws. Is this issue something worth concerning or will he finally realize that he's fighting himself? I've already ordered some plastic plants and I will be planning to add those in as well (hopefully blocking his mirror image a little more). The 2nd issue concerns his basking area. I have just received his basking platform today and he hasn't gotten use to it yet as expected. I had to lift him up to the platform. He seem to enjoy his first indoor basking experience. He must have basked for about 6 hours until I decided to place him back into the water (hoping he might try to climb back up but he didn't). However, the ramp leading to the actual basking area is kind of small for him. The ramp is only about 3 1/2 inches wide and he's about 5inches in wide already. Will that be an issue? I have included a picture and the sizing specifications below. My last issue regards some lizard liner that I bought. What kind of glue is the safest for aquariums so that I can glue the lizard liner to the bottom of the tank. If I just leave at the bottom, it just floats back up.

12(L)
6 1/2(W) / 2
3 1/2 (H)
http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/7885/b81b9uz.jpg

contact444 · Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:47 pm Post subject:

Well I don't really think that the lizard linner is necessary, but if you feel that you have to put it in only use aquarium safe glue (at the pet store sometimes home depot etc.), it has to cure I believe for 24 hours without getting wet. I personally prefer the med-large size pebbles as they are safe (they can't swallow them) and they enjoy digging and rooting around for leftovers.

As far as attacking himself I would say if he's really going to cause himself injury the pretty background isn't worth it. If he doesn't get used to it after 3-4 weeks I wouldn't keep it up.

I would say that he would probably have a real hard time getting up if the platform is more narrow than he is because their legs stick out the sides, so it wouldn't be feasible for it to be able to climb up on it? If it does let me know how Rolling Eyes

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2 big RES, 1 Flowerhorn Cichlid, 1 Cockatiel. I will alway hold a place in my heart for Daphne, my albino RES.

BROOKLYN · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:03 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice. I'll wait out for the few weeks and hopefully he won't be as aggressive. As for the lizard liner, I guess I'll get some rocks as well and use that to hold down the liner. I bought it so no point of it going to waste. As for the ramp, I was kind of upset when when I heard about the bad news (your answer). The reason was I didn't want to spend more money for now after I just cough up $200 already. I work part time and this month wasn't a money making month because of holidays (work in private college). I decided to lift Survivor (his name Laughing

) so he can bask again today. He seemed to enjoy it a lot then goes back into the water after a few hours. I was thinking about going to Home Depot tomorrow but some good news came around. Survivor actually climbed up to the basking area twice. I putted some Reptomin up there to lure him and I guess it worked (although there was some feeder fish swimming in the water). I think he must have climbed up the basking platform. I installed the ramp at the corner of the tank so there was water high enough where he can swim right next to it then pull himself up. I'm not sure since I wasn't actually present at the time. I guess I'll hold off with the plexi-glass for now.

Update: Survivor has gone up there for the 3rd time now. He decided to sleep out of the water for tonight. I hope he'll climb up there when I turn on the basking lights today (4:32AM Eastern Time).

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject:

Turtles are very resourceful, and sometimes stubborn, one of my turtles would insist on climbing on the side of the turtle dock, even though the ramp was easily accessible, I guess he finally got tired and went up the ramp Laughing

As far as getting bigger goes, mine are about 5 inches each, both boys, I tried a new basking platform, made out of a 12" x 12" ceramic tile from Home depot/Lowes, I trimmed it so that it would fit on the inside rim of the tank, then I made a fence (with a notch on two sides that would accomodate the tile) so that the turtles couldn't climb out, but they never tried to use it, I used the same ramp, I just raised it high enough to be almost level with the tile, but nothing, I guess I will try later. Very Happy

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BROOKLYN · Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:52 pm Post subject:

Today, I've actually seen how Survivor goes up to his basking platform. He does use the 3 1/2 inch ramp although it's quite small for him. He seems to struggle a little but manages to get up there by putting his other hand on the upper half of the ramp. My main concern as of now is his shell. Since he really hasn't gotten the necessary requirements for the past decade, his shell does to show it (lack of UVB light). It's quite dark and the scutes start to peel off when he's all dried up. I still haven't gotten my digital camera back yet but I will by the end of this month. Is it going to get better as time progresses? His shell does seem to have golden spots all around it. Could be rot or something but I don't know. His shell is hard though and definetely not soft. His swimming is kind of off but I'm guessing because my grandma never really added enough water for him to actually swim freely when he got bigger. However I am starting to see improving in his swimming habits. Any suggestions about his shell?

dixieee · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 10:20 am Post subject:

my expectations would be that his scutes are shedding bcz now he got a bigger place to grow up in and the dark color is bcz he's not a hatchling anymore (u said 10+ yrs? well that explains it Smile

)

u shouldn't have given up stray. i have a small floating boat for my turtles and got them a new basking area but they didn't use them. i took out their old brick for a couple of days so they'll have no other choice, still nothing i noticed they're getting exhausted swimming especially that the water is much deeper now. so i had to put it back but after about a week i caught mint sleeping on the new basking spot. they somewhat divided their properties now and its his. as for the boat, he can't get up there by himself and i'm still thinking of a way
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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

BROOKLYN · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:19 pm Post subject:

Thanks Dixieee. I hope you're right that there isn't anything to worry about. There is no doubt that Survivor is over 10 years olds. He is one tough turtle. Kind of proud of him and mad at myself a little every time I think about how he lived against all the odds for so long. I guess when I saw all the shells from other RES owners in this forum as well as others that I expected to see a less darker brown with some tinted yellow around his marginal shield. I guess that his lack of UVB and aging gave away this coloring. Does the shell of a RES heal fast? I'm still kind of hoping to see improving in shell as time progresses then before when he lived in a rubbermaid with like 3inches of water without any real exposure to UVA/UVB and his reptomin. If other words, Survivor came from the ghetto. He's been hustling and struggling hard most of his life.

I am still not really please with his basking area as it doesn't really provide much room for him to walk around in. Definitely not what I had in mind when I was planning for his basking area. I guess Survivor and I will have to tolerate with this annoyance for just a bit longer until I grab a few plexi glass, a tube of aquarium glue, and some pvc pipes. As for his tank, I really should have cough up a little more but I am simply just broke this month. Now I'm kind of stuck with his 29G tank and everything fitted only for that tank for at least another few months until I'm ready to replace everything all over again.

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:51 pm Post subject:

dixieee · Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 7:10 pm Post subject: