Urgent Care :: basking too much?

[shorty6packs]

Hi, I am new to this forum, and I need help!

I have had Flipper, my RES, for about 6 years. For the last ~3 years he has been in a 55 gallon tank. We recently moved to him to a smaller but wider tank and built an above tank basking area. His tank is filled up to about 3-4 inches from the top. Before I added the above tank basking area, he happily swam around his new tank for about 24 hours. As soon as the basking area was installed, he climbed up the ramp and onto the platform. I was so happy about that. The problem is he won't go back in the water on his own, and he won't stay in the water if i put him in. He just wants to stay on the basking platform. I've put him back in several times just to eat and get wet, otherwise he just stays up on top. How long can he stay out of the water? Will he eventually go back in? At first I was afraid he was afraid to go back down the ramp into the water, but since he just climbs right back out when I put him in the water, I think maybe that's not the problem. Any insight and advice would be much appreciated!

I forgot to copy and paste the questions, so I'll answer as well as I can:

Flipper is a RES, about 6 years old. 7" carapace.

40 gallon tank (I know it should be bigger...upgrade to come) with above tank basking area with uvb/heat lamp

canister filter rated for 75 gallon tanks

eats zoo med turtle pellets daily (just found out I am overfeeding causing pyramiding...cutting back on feeding frequency and adding veggies)

water temp 76-78, basking area temp ~90

that's all i can remember...will answer any questions. TIA!!

[steve]

Are the lights on a timer? Does he stay up there when it's off? What's the air temperature?

[shorty6packs]

The lights are not on a timer but I'm a stay at home mom so I am home to turn them on and off. I usually have them on from about 8 am til about 8-9 pm. He does stay up on the platform when the lights are off. The air temp is about 72 degrees in the house. This has only been happening since I switched tanks and added the platform 3 days ago. When he was in the other tank there was much less water and he only had a log to bask on which did not allow him to get completely dry but mostly dry. Also, his lamp was much higher.

[shorty6packs]

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252
{\fonttbl\f0\fnil\fcharset0 .HelveticaNeueInterface-Regular;}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;\red73\green72\blue65;\red255\green255\blue255;}
\deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720\sl440\partightenfactor0

\f0\fs32 \cf2 \cb3 \expnd0\expndtw0\kerning0
\outl0\strokewidth0 \strokec2 }

Here is a pic of his set-up

[steve]

If you leave him up there overnight, does he go back into the water by morning? What's the basking temperature? Is it warmer than the previous setup?

[shorty6packs]

He will stay up there all night with the lights off. The basking temp is about 90 degrees. It is warmer than the old set up.

[shorty6packs]

He finally went in the water on his own!!!! We just got up and I noticed he was sitting very close to the ramp, then SPLASH!! In he went!! Yay!! I think he just needed to work up the courage to take the plunge. Thanks so much for your help, Steve!

[steve]

No prob, glad to hear things are going great!