General Care Discussion :: Moved to new home - sleepy turtles and basking "privacy"

[kamekichi]

We just moved. The turtles are in their same 60-gallon tank with everything but their rocks and fake plants (which they didn't have for a few months prior to the move) and both eating fine. Swimming's OK (Yawara looks like the current from the new output tube may be kicking him around a bit) and basking is good, but they're in my room now and coming in during their basking scares them off the dock.

I notice them napping behind the heater and/or filter more during the day (Yawara was doing it prior to the move) - should I be concerned? I'm about to go on vacation for five days, so I just want to ask and intervene if I need to before I go (they'll have someone checking in and feeding every other day and timers on their lights).

Also, does anyone have any suggestions about giving them more "privacy" for basking? I was thinking of moving the dock into the corner covered by the aquarium background.

[steve]

They should be able to get used to you, though they will always be a little skittish. How much activity was in their previous room?

I'm not sure about the napping. Is it possible you observe them more in the new room and picked up this behavior?

[amwassil]

My turtles were always very skittish while basking when they were in the day tanks, which were both sitting on the floor. I suspected this was because they were low and anyone coming into the room was so much higher (to them BIGGER!). In their night tank, which is on a shelf about 3 feet off the floor, they are not skittish at all and don't show any fear or desire to jump into the water with someone around. Now we've all moved into an 80 gallon day tank which sits on an aquarium cabinet so that water level is about 5 feet off the floor. They don't mind at all if someone looks in on them while basking. I can talk to them and even pet them without the "crash dive" response kicking in.

[kamekichi]

Thank you both. They were in the living room previously, so the timing of when we were in and out was about the same, but it's reassuring if they can get used to me being in and out.

You're probably right Steve about the napping. The room they're in right now is also hotter, so that might effect them.