Urgent Care :: Turtle acting & splashing much more

[blkbox]

Hi, I am now witnessing a behavior I consider unusual. My turtle is often splashing around _a lot more_ than usual, like if something went wrong or she hurted herself and wanted to get out of the water. Before, she usually splashed water trying to swim out of the tank (like, through the window but failing). I am concerned this change of behavior means something.

Details:
4" long, had for 1 yr and a half

Water temp: 27C, 80F (always been around that)
Has a permanent thermomet (sticked on window)
Using water heater (since forever)
Water level varying greatly, it's a 15 gal tank, but the water level is lowering relatively a lot everyday, now it's about half filled.
Using a filter, although i don't rinse it often.

Basking temprature: 28C
Basking light: yes
Basking platform, yes
Incandescent, for turtle (from ExoTerra, so I assume proper UV).

She's eating fine (turtle pellets)
Last ate this morning (I usually feed her every night, but I forgot yesterday)

Tank is near a window, not much room activity (me on a computer)
I more or less read the Basic Care section.
Searched the forum, couldn't find a really relevant situation.

Possibly relevant details:
It's only since very recently that I'm letting her roam freely outside her tank once in a while. I'm only doing this when I am watching her 100% of that time (she's never without supervision outside her tank). Only did this a couple of time. She's out right now, she seems to "enjoy" it, roaming all around my room without problems. Also, I 'painted' her with iode, in order to get rid of shell problems she has.

I'm just concerned because I've never seen this behavior and I was wondering if it was caused by something wrong.

[happycamper]

Maybe she is wanting to lay eggs?

I think 15 gallons is a little small, You should consider getting a new tank. Definitely try to fill the water to max capacity at least.

[blkbox]

Indeed, I'll try and keep the tank filled a little more rigorously. Not that it requires much effort either...

Laying eggs, eh? Now then...
I think my turtle is a female. But I never really found out for sure because I always thought she was too young for me to see any proof of her sex.

Note, if I've been saying "her" all the time, it's because in french a turtle is a feminine noun.

But then assuming it's a female ... What should I do about it? I think i'm a bit clueless here.
edit! went reading the reproduction section...
Okay, I went reading the site a bit. I believe my turtle is a female, from the claw lenght and the location of the cloaca. Also I noticed a very very slight bump at the cloaca, perhaps a little larger than the one on the female picture on this page http://www.redearslider.com/determining_sex.html .

Now then, egglaying is something I didn't expect. Can she really be laying egg at this age? And how can I be sure about this?
Thanks

[richieboy]

Having eggs is possible maybe at 4 inches. You can also drop the temp a degree or two.

[steve]

If the measurement is correct, then I would think she is just begging instead of being gravid.

[vear]

About your bulb - does it actually say UVB? just b/c it's for turtles doesn't mean it's UVB. Do you have 1 or 2 bulbs?

[blkbox]

I have 1 lamp. My current incandescent one is, according to the website, UVA. But then I also have 1 fluo-compact bulb, which is UVB ...

I noticed she won't bask as often if I don't use the incandescent one, because it's much cooler on the basking spot. But then, I'm aware she's not getting all her UVB ...

Guess I'll just go find another lamp socket.

[vear]

Yeah, you need to have both on at the same time. How's she been?

[sflemin2]

Mine is laying eggs now and thats how she is acting. Swimming as fast as she can back and forth. You will need to look into nesting areas because she can get sick if she doesnt lay them. I am struggling with this now.. mine hates being out of her tank so she has only laid them in the water (and I read that is bad). She just tries to get out of the nesting area

[blkbox]

I'm fairly confident she's not going to lay eggs, as she has not acted like this anymore. Since then, I haven't noticed anything wrong in her behavior. She's not swimming fast around, or in any direction.

I haven't set up the 2 bulbs yet. To do tomorrow.