Habitat - Indoor :: sleeping in the same room

[Harry Mclovin]

hey. i just got my two turtles (Greg and Damon) over week ago. at first i didnt know when they would sleep, but on the second day i saw that they seem to quiten down around 8:30 so i have set this as their 'bed time' and it seems to work fine (for them). i thought i could continue my after 8:30 activities (using computer, watching tv, book work etc.) by using torches and the light from the apliences, which doesnt seem to annoy them. i am now finding it incresingly harder and annoying to do almost anything in my room after they go to sleep. i tryed turning on the room light, but that wakes them up and the give me a rather angry look. i have had a few sugestions from freind, like puting a sheet over and around the tank so i can use the room light or even getting them to go to sleep when i do (often as late as 10:00). can anyone help by giving sugestions or pointing me in the right way? thanks.

[RESnTX]

I just put a blanket over the tank to block the light. I think alot of other people here do the same thing.

[jenaero]

I would say that as long as the lights are on a schedule (12-14 hours on) and they have a night cycle, you're fine. I've seen mine sleeping in the middle of the day so they'll just sleep when they need to whether or not you're working in that room. My turt's lights go on around 7am and off at around 10 and they've been fine. You could put a towel or sheet on the tank if you like.. it wouldn't hurt, but I'd just go about the normal routine and forget they're in the room

[TheBean]

My tank is in the main area of the house which I am in most of the time. My bed times vary but GreenBean doesn't seem to care what I do. Sometimes he stays up as late as me swiming around and playing and whatnot, other times, he just goes to sleep with his front flippers over his eyes whether the light is on or not.

Guess it depends on the turtle but seems to me that you can do what you do and they'll do what they do.

[ILUV_Rocky]

Its funny there is a topic about this. I can't even walk into my room that my RES jumps like a crazy turtle of his basking area and swims like crazy then calms down when he hears my voice or sees me. Is that bad? I mean sometimes I just walk by my room and once I walked past I here him jump off ... is he crazy? lol

[Vtolds]

Lights don't seem to affect my turts sleeping. Her tank light turn on automatically at 6:45 and off around 7:00. She stays active for a little while after that but usually before I go to bed she is laying on the bottom of her tank and she usually is up and swimming before her lights come on.

[packfan1]

My guys sleep when they are tired, but I have them basically on day/night schedule similar to me. Lights on 8-9am and off again by 8-9pm. I believe it is beneficail to have a fairly regurlar day&night mode for them. Like us though, they will get up early or stay up later, lights on or not.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Originally, I had my turtle's lights going on at 9 am and off at 9 pm, but I was finding that prior to 9 am, he was already awake and by 8 pm, he was already asleep. So, I reset the times to 8 am-8 pm. He's still usually awake when the lights go on, but he's asleep around 8 pm.

I would keep a constant light on-off schedule, but don't worry if your turtle is still active before or after. I usually catch mine sleeping mid-day also.

ILUV_Rocky, many turtles do that. I have never seen my turtle basking because he always dives off before I get to the doorway, meanwhile my husband has seen him basking often. I must step heavier or something. It's perfectly normal for them to dive off when you get close. I've just learned to appreciate watching my turtle swim, rather than bask. <sigh>

[TheBean]

I have to be real sneaky in order to catch Bean basking. Sometimes if I'm on the other side of the room and am paying him no mind, he'll stay up there. If I look at him and start towards his tank, off he goes like a FLASH into the water.

[christu]

I've seen Zoe hide under her basking dock and sleep if the lights are on. I guess its to block out the light.

As for catching her basking, I've actually snuck into my room and taken pictures of her. The tank is near the window for some real sunlight as well as a UV lamp. I keep my door closed and when I come home for lunch or at the end of the day, I see her basking.

if you're interested: http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f301/transportersde/

I hope that link works.

[steve]

If possible, I'd move the tank away from the window or keep the blinds down. She's not benefiting from any sun through the glass and a small tank has a tendency to heat up quickly in direct sunlight.

[Bumby's Mom]

I put a black sheet over their tanks but I also give them the same sleeping schedule I have. Mine don't try going to sleep until I turn off my light and then the babies swim over to where they want to sleep and Nyx does whatever.

[marisa]

I use stock tanks, so there's no worry about light coming in the sides. I do, however, put a larger piece of cardboard over most of the tops to keep any remaining light out. My RES will occasionally refuse to sleep even when the tank's been darkened. Other times, however, he's at the bottom of the tank dozing before the light goes out.

[TheBean]

Lights are still on in my livingroom and Bean is hanging off of his dock, kind of floating there, dead asleep. I'd get a pic if I could cause it's really cute but he always seems to know when a camera's around and gets shy.

[VanishingReality]

I just put a thick towel over my turt's tank. Sometimes he goes to sleep right when the light goes off and sometimes he stays up. Although if he goes to sleep before his bedtime then his lights get shut off and his towel goes up.