All Turtles Message Board

kiwigal · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject: She wont bask??!

Hi there,

Am currently turtle sitting for a nice young man who recently purchased an entire turtle set up incluing RES, he has named her Munch and I estimate her to be about 14 months old.

The problem is the guy he bought her off had no idea how to look after her and by the time Jed got her her shell was almost completely white (re:http://www.allturtles.com/msgboard/viewtopic.php?t=8445).

Since I have been taking care of her she has started to improve but she will not bask, she wont go up on her turtle dock at all, and she hates to be put outside, she starts getting a bit agitated. How can we encorage her to bask more because she obviously needs to??
At the moment its a colder day here so have taken her out of her tank and put her under lights in a dry tank to try and force the issue a bit gently but dont know if this is the right approach?
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cant find something nice to say.......

trtlduv · Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject:

I think I would do the same in that situation.... not sure if that helps at all.
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shade & sweetwater!

kiwigal · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 4:21 am Post subject:

does anyone know why she wont bask, is this a behavior that can be corrected. Or will we have to force the issue with her always?
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cant find something nice to say.......

Tiffany · Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:40 am Post subject:

Normally after time they will bask. As long as the basking area is warm enough.Keep the temp at least 85 on the platform. I force bask the ones that are all white like that from shedding at night. Take them out when the lghts go off, place them in a towel, and th into a box then in a warm place. Less stress as it's dark and they will sleep. Then in the morning back into the tank and feed. This way they also don't miss uv time. Do this about a week, every night.

You can also try to block the baskig area...I did this with several...one 8 inch res I got was so shy I used fake plants from the dollar store to kinda give a bit of privacy. She could still see where we were at but felt safer. With babies I use colored paper and tape it around the tank to cover the whole area. After about 3 weeks they have been basking and every thing can be removed.
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3 sulcata,11 red ears,1 yellow belly,1 melanistic slider,1 map,1 western painted,2 3 toe boxies,1 striped mud,2 japanese pond,2 common musk,1 russian,1 ornate wood,1 FL Cooter,7 annam pond,2 back wood,1 Malayan box,1 Red belly

dixieee · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:36 am Post subject:

hey welcome back Smile

she could be scared, forcing her to bask like u're already doing is the only way until she gets used to u. btw, did she bask back then when she was at her owner's?
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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

kiwigal · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:45 am Post subject:

Hi there

My understanding is her previous owner had no idea and didn't realise basking was nessecary, so only put her lights on "every now and again" Mad

So since I estimate her to be about 14 months old, she has gone 14 months without regular daily basking. I only have her for a while until her new owner gets back from holiday but hes only 11 so I want to help her as much as I can first. So that when he picks her up we know exactly what to do
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cant find something nice to say.......

dixieee · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:47 am Post subject:

oh ok, then give her some time to get used to u. I just hope she doesn't freak out again when she's back
_________________
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

Tiffany · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:39 am Post subject:

My red ear Jackie was 2 when I got her and had never basked. It's in them to do it and not something they learn. When I got her she spent most of the time in a cave I had for her. Leaving her alone and letting her get used to things was what worked. Like I said before I got fake plants from the dollar store and nailed them above her tank, so they hung down over the front and she started getting up to bask. I would come home and hear the water plop of her jumping in. Then she got to where she would stay up when I went through as long as I didn't get to close. Now I can touch her while she's basking and she could care less. It takes time and they have to feel safe to bask, other wise they will not do it. I am sorry to say I disagree with picking them up to make them bask. Just cover it some and make it feel safe and go about normal business.
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3 sulcata,11 red ears,1 yellow belly,1 melanistic slider,1 map,1 western painted,2 3 toe boxies,1 striped mud,2 japanese pond,2 common musk,1 russian,1 ornate wood,1 FL Cooter,7 annam pond,2 back wood,1 Malayan box,1 Red belly

kiwigal · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject:

Please dont apoligise for having a different opinion, we are all entitled to those. And I did ask on here to get all sorts of ideas.

The only reason I am picking her up is that she already is having problems with her shell and I want to heal her shell before shell rot sets in. I dont know if its the right thing to do, but my understanding is thats its the only way to heal her Confused

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cant find something nice to say.......

Tiffany · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject:

If you are worried about shell rott, go to the pharmacy and get some hibiclense. Soak the turtle in a mix of that and water....about 50/50. Soak for about 20 minutes a day. Rinse very well with water that is not cold or hot to the touch. Hibiclense will kill any bacteria or fungus. And then after you soak it put it into a box with a towel or something in it, close the box and leave the turtle there over night. In the morning put it back into the tank and feed it. As little touching the better. Get in and do what you have to do and then leave it be.
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3 sulcata,11 red ears,1 yellow belly,1 melanistic slider,1 map,1 western painted,2 3 toe boxies,1 striped mud,2 japanese pond,2 common musk,1 russian,1 ornate wood,1 FL Cooter,7 annam pond,2 back wood,1 Malayan box,1 Red belly

kiwigal · Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject:

Ok I live in rural New Zealand, turtles are not a common pet here and pharmacy has no idea what the product actually is.

No idea how to get it or even what the active ingrediants are so he could get something similar Confused

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cant find something nice to say.......