Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Climbing out of tank

[johnsonkd0669]

My turtle climbed out of my 55 gallon tank last week and fell to the tile floor below. Thankfully she was not hurt. What I would like to know is why she does it (only at night) and can I keep her out of the tank at night? Please respond!!

[vear]

You should attach some plexiglass to the sides of your tank so she can't get out. Is this by the basking area? If not, lower the water level.

[johnsonkd0669]

Yes, by the basking area. I was thinking I should by an in tank filter so I can lower the water. What do you think?

[vear]

Do you have any pictures? Is there any way for you to attach some plexiglass to your basking area so she can't get out? How big is your turtle? If you're gonna have to upgrade in the future and are looking into a different filter you need to make sure it'll be large enough to handle a larger tank. How big is your turtle?

[johnsonkd0669]

I can download pictures if you need me to. She is almost a year old and about 6-8 long from the front to back of her shell. I have a 55 gallon tank now. It is glass and I am not sure how to attach plexiglass. Why does she try to get out? Should I take her out at night? I will get a picture to you. It will only take a minute.

[johnsonkd0669]

Here she is along with her tank.

[ErikP]

Wow, that turtle is 1 year old? I have a screen top clipped on to the top of the tank over my turtle's basking area for the time being. Bernie is constantly trying to escape. Found her stuck on her side on top of her basking area just this afternoon, no doubt as a result of a failed escape attempt. If there is a way out, your turtle will find it. Either cover the top over the basking area with a wide mesh screen, or egg crate, or lower the water a few inches, or build an acrylic surround for that side of the aquarium.... Just my 2¢

[vear]

ah! i see. ErikP has a great suggestion. Cover the tank with eggcrate - the holes will be big enough for UVB to go through. You could just cover the side her basking area is on. You don't need to take her out at night, she'll try to get out no matter what. They don't really "think" about it, it's just something they do. For now you could just lower the water level. I don't have much time right now, but i'll come back to this thread when I do.

[sflemin2]

Egg crate is the way to go. Its very cheap (they have it at Lowes.. you may have to ask someone where it is) and you can cut it easily.

Your turtle looks MUCH older than a year... My females didnt hit 6 inches until they were like 6. They are only the size of a half dollar when they are babies

[johnsonkd0669]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will check Lowes today. I was thinking about an in water filter and lowering the water. With the filter I have now I can't lower the water or it will not work. When I got her she was about 3 inches. I bought her at PetSmart. She may be older than a year if you think she is big for her age. How can you find out how old they are? She is the best pet I have ever had. Love than darn turtle!!

[sflemin2]

I had a Fluval Plus filter that could be submerged and I was really happy with it. You may want to get two but I ran one for two turtles and my water stayed clear. I am not sure how to get an accurate guess on her age but even if it turns out she like 5 ..don't worry, they live forever!

[vear]

If you're going to Lowes, might as well just buy some eggcrate (light diffuser). You can cover only the area of the tank where her basking area is. This way she still has plenty of water to swim in! =) I'm not sure if you can tell how old they are. I would say when you bought her she was probably already a year old. I really don't know though.

[johnsonkd0669]

I looked at the Fluval filter today at PetSmart. EXPENSIVE!!, but she is worth it!! I will try the egg crate first. Is it plastic? I'm not sure I know what it is. Can't picture it in my mind.

[ErikP]

It's a white plastic grid used to diffuse fluorescent light. It's somewhere in the lighting dept. Ask a salesperson to point you in the right direction. If you have the exact measurements they'll probably even cut it to size for you.

[johnsonkd0669]

I think I know what it is. Thanks again!! I'll let ya'll know the outcome.