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The other day my I was watching my turtle as he (or she) would crawl up onto his basking dock, turn his head to the right, bite the air twice, turn his head to the left, bite the air twice, and then jump back in the water.

In a minute or two, he'd crawl back out and continue this like some kind of routine. He would sometimes bite more than twice.

I have no idea why he would be doing this... but he clearly knew I was around. Was he trying to tell me that he's hungry?

Sebastian, I don't think he's hungry. What about his/her behavior otherwise? Less active than usual, swollen eyes, swimming lopsided, difficulty submerging, breathing with his/her mouth open, mucus on the nose? How's his/her appetite?

has he been breathing through his mouth at all??? Any mucus coming from his nose??

No, he seems totally fine. Swimming and begging as usual.

He may just be itching or trying to shake off some dead skin. Keep a close eye on him, though. If he's actually trying to take breaths of air then it could be he's coming down with an RI.

SpotsMama wrote:He may just be itching or trying to shake off some dead skin. Keep a close eye on him, though. If he's actually trying to take breaths of air then it could be he's coming down with an RI.

I didn't think of that. He was shedding a bit around his neck at the time. He tries usually tries to bite the loose skin.

Hopefully that's all it is. Just keep an eye on him. Another thing you might watch out for is any reluctance to bask. If for some reason the basking platform isn't comfortable - too hot, light too intense - that could conceivably cause him to get irritated (snapping) and jump back into the water.

yeah lets hope thats all it is

Its odd hes coming out just to do that... my turt bites her arm sometimes but she does it in the water, she doesnt make a trip up on the dock just to do that... it seems your turt is coming out just to do that, which is odd... I agree, watch his breathing and if he gets lethargic and loses his appetite, or you see bubbles coming out his nose when out of water, then take him to a vet.

Are there any tiny bugs flying around? In warm weather I've seen my RES kind of snap his head around out of the water when there were tiny insects flying near his head.