Other Turtle Discussion :: Getting Turtle to Bask while I am home

[Kazunami]

So my RES will not bask while I am home. Well, she/he (can't figure it out) will, but I have to be perfectly still for about an hour before Nami will cautiously step up onto his/her platform. Sometimes, I surround his/her tank with folders so he/she can't see me but that is really addressing the symptom rather than the disease. Do you all have any ideas on how to coax Nami up onto the platform? Or do you know how to get Nami more comfortable with me being around?

As a side note, when Nami jumps off of the platform, he/she always seems to slam herself into the side of her tank. Its a 20 long tank so there shouldn't be a problem about space (Nami is only 2 inches long). Is this normal?

[Kemul]

That's perfectly normal. They're not called "sliders" for nothing. RES will slide
into water when they sense something approaching. Some people actually cover
the tank or basking area to give the turtles privacy at night or whenever.

How to get your turtle to be comfortable with you around? That'll take time. Just
be around your turtle often and it'll recognize you eventually. Hopefully, it can
feel comfortable enough to bask in front of you.

Good luck!

[theartbook35]

Mine let me watch them bask because they have just seen me for several hours every darn day that we've had them. Once your turtle gains survival trust in you, it will let you watch it bask.

The best way to get survival trust, is to hand feed.

[Spike 7.62]

Those are it's instincts helping it survive. In the wild, a nearby motion could be a racoon, wild dog or a bird of prey, and to escape they "slide" into the water and try to swim as far away as possible. They hit the tank wall because they don't grasp the invisibile barrier concept, which none of my turtles seem to understand still.. anyway, it's totally normal and the only thing you can do is wait. Eventually after enough human interaction, your turtle will trust you enough to bask (and even sleep) in your presence.

-Spike

[turtle man]

Mine let me watch them bask because they have just seen me for several hours every darn day that we've had them. Once your turtle gains survival trust in you, it will let you watch it bask.

The best way to get survival trust, is to hand feed.

how do you hand feed them? in the water or out the water??

[sx2r]

i had fed my one turtle once with tuna on my finger and just held it above the water slightly and he jumped out and took it off.. i was a little nervous he was going to bite me but he didnt.

[bigG]

I hand fed my RES when she was young. Now, she will come to anyone if she thinks they might have some food.

[turtle man]

cool!, mine skidaddle as soon as soon as I start putting in food, we're working on it though..., in a year they should be at the level.

[lorlor]

I kept my tank right beside my desk at school when I was doing work. I think mine got used to the constant slight movement of me typing, writing, etc. So now he will bask and sleep when I'm around. He freaks out when my significant other comes around, though

I'd definitely try hand-feeding. I like to pinch the food (lettuce, pellet, whatever it may be) at the very corner and hang it over the water. If your turtle is picky/nervous, perhaps you can spice it up a bit- some owners I know like to soak it a bit in tuna juice.

Maybe then s/he'll be more comfortable! good luck :]

[JohnA]

i noticed everytime i gently open the door to my room i see all my RES jump and glide into the water and hide. which is akward cause they all bask infront of me. That is if i dont come near them... i can sit on my bed without worry if they will bask or not but anytime i come up to the tank they all slide into the water. tho i have one turtle thats on the basking platform 24/7 and never barely ever swims. even when the light is off she is on the basking platform...

[turtle man]

yeah.. give your them a good 3 months to be used to the noise of you comin in, by the way is that turtle sick?(the one that stays on the platform),wb

[theartbook35]

Mine let me watch them bask because they have just seen me for several hours every darn day that we've had them. Once your turtle gains survival trust in you, it will let you watch it bask.

The best way to get survival trust, is to hand feed.

how do you hand feed them? in the water or out the water??

In the water, always in the water. Turtles don't have saliva, so, they won't really take much food from you on land. Ty and Cane grab lettuce and drag it into the water, but Sadie will not take food out of water at all.

Sadie does not like it if my mother walks by while she's basking. She's okay with me if I move slowly. Sadie will hurl herself off of the dock.