All Turtles Message Board

Hewwo2u2 · Level 3 Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 105 Location: SC

I've had her a week now and she has not basked once! In her old home she used to bask allll the time...but her water was very cold there (like UNDER 70 degress). That's the only reason I can think of since her water is not so cold here. I tried turning the heat lamps over the water off to see if that would make her want to go to her rock. the water is like 73 degrees now and her rock is like 83. she's still herself swimming around trying to eat eat anything that floats. Going to put the temperatures back up soon...but just wondering if anyone might know why she won't bask. I need her to because I've been treating some shell problems and although I keep her out for about an hour when i'm doing that, it's not under the UVb bulb (which is over her rock ofcourse) and I know this would help alot if she would sit under it.

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

She is going to take her time getting used to her new place. Are you sure she isn't basking when you aren't around? Some are more shy than others when you change a routine. I have a bunch that when I take them from the house to the pond they will not bask for a while. Then all summer if they so much as see my shadow they dive for it. Laughing

But in the house they are fine. They are just skeerties, as my hubby calls them. Laughing

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Hewwo2u2 · Level 3 Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 105 Location: SC

yeah i thought maybe she was just scared, but she is in the living room where I am most of the time anyway watching TV or something (shes beside the tv so I can watch both) Smile

I've even slept in there to see, and i'm pretty sure she has not climbed on that rock yet! I'm not sure how much the water filters the rays, but i have the UVB light going across the entire tank so hopefully shes getting some...I hope to see her on that rock soon though...I mean its weird because she comes right up to me when she thinks I'm going to feed her so I don;t think she's scared of me. and when i take her out to put the medicine on her shell she doesn't bring her head in any more...maybe she is really enjoying the warm water??? i dunno...how long can a turtle go before developing more problems from never getting out of the water?

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1227

She will be ok. Think of hibernating turtles. They don't see the sun for months and they don't dry off for that long either. Let her get used to her new basking area. That is another thing, have you tried setting her on it a few times to make sure she knows where it's at? Also is it easy for her to get on?
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Hewwo2u2 · Level 3 Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 105 Location: SC

I have put her on it several times. She jumps off it as soon as I put her on it and swims really hard like she running from something...most of the time she swims to the side of the dank and keeps swimming in place as if the glass isn't there. I don't think its hard to get on though...I even made little stairs in case the water level goes lower that the main rock, and the water level is even higher now then in the picture. I guess its like a watched pot never boils? I spent so long making that thing that I want her to sit on it! (lol) And now that you informed me that turtles cant swallow out of the water i guess putting some kinda treat on there wouldn't do me any good. Will she try to eat something out of the water anyway even if she cant swallow or is that dangerous?