Habitat - Indoor :: New turtle owner's setup

[ipaema_guy]

Hi, I got two RES turtles recently, and am having quite a good time with them. I a not sure how old they are exactl, but they are 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 inches long perpectively. The smaller one is named Moe, and the bigger one is Moe.

I originally have the water level at 6 inches, like the starter's guide suggested, but I found them to be not so active, and Moe would just sit at the bottm of the tank. For the first 3 weeks or so, he didn't really eat.

Then I increased the water level by about inches, Moe started to be a little more active, still did not eat, but he did start to bask.

Then 5 days ago, I built a ATBA, and fill the tank (20 gallons) almost all the way up. What I've noticed is that the turtles have been a lot more active, but now they would not climb up the tank and go into the basking area. I've read in some of the posts that it'll take them a few days to weeks to get used to the setup, but I will post some pictures below in case anyone has any suggestions to entice them into the basking area.

I am open to any suggestions.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/22852947@N08/4349904895/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22852947@N08/4350653568/

[V Lou]

What is the temperature of the water? They like it around 72-75 (degrees F).
Are you using a heater?

I just love their names !!!! Moe and Moe. Too fun!!

I feel like such a ditz! but, I don't know how to access your pictures.

Anyway, RESs are all about temperature. When they are warm, they are active. When their water is something like 50-60 they won't eat or move much, but their metabolism, though slow, is still ticking away and will cause them to use up the energy they have stored. To get more energy, eventually their bodies will break down their own proteins (muscle for example, even heart muscle) and they will waste away; they can die. At about 40-43 degrees F, they hibernate, meaning that their metabolism pretty much slows down to a stand still so they don't waste away. So at the bottom of a deep, deep pond, the unfrozen water, the densest water, is 4 degrees C, or is that about 40F?, anyway, that is a temp that is safe for them because they hibernate.

So, if you would like them to eat, play and grow, they need to have warmth, which is why I assume your water isn't 72-75F. But, I'm just guessing. What's the water temp?

If your water temp is sufficient, then what are you offering them to eat? Try some canned, rinsed tuna fish, perhaps, ...tiny pieces.

If that is okay, they might be sick. Is their skin puffy around their neck/shoulder area and in front of their hind legs where that skin meets their shell? I"m just trying to think of reasons they might not be moving/eating....

[sull324]

Your setup is really well done.

something you could do would be to break small piece of an stick and put them on the basking area at random and accessible spot. they will smell it from the water and will go get them.it might speed up the process.

and one thing to never do is to force them or put them in the basking area,that will just make everything worse.

[V Lou]

Now I can access your pictures. WoW!! Way cool set up.

Is it cold outside where you live? Sometimes having an aquarium next to a window, if it's cold outside..... Just going with my hunch that the water is a bit chilly for them. Some say the water should be in the upper 70's (degrees F) for Moe and Moe.

[n00bEmpty]

Did you use a one of the ZooMed turtle dock as a ramp? If so then how did you make it submerge partly?

[ipaema_guy]

Did you use a one of the ZooMed turtle dock as a ramp? If so then how did you make it submerge partly?

I just srewed the ramp down to the bottom board of the basking ara with 3 screws. I had my doubts in the beginning but it turned out to be working just fine.

[ipaema_guy]

What is the temperature of the water? They like it around 72-75 (degrees F).
Are you using a heater?

I just love their names !!!! Moe and Moe. Too fun!!

I feel like such a ditz! but, I don't know how to access your pictures.

Anyway, RESs are all about temperature. When they are warm, they are active. When their water is something like 50-60 they won't eat or move much, but their metabolism, though slow, is still ticking away and will cause them to use up the energy they have stored. To get more energy, eventually their bodies will break down their own proteins (muscle for example, even heart muscle) and they will waste away; they can die. At about 40-43 degrees F, they hibernate, meaning that their metabolism pretty much slows down to a stand still so they don't waste away. So at the bottom of a deep, deep pond, the unfrozen water, the densest water, is 4 degrees C, or is that about 40F?, anyway, that is a temp that is safe for them because they hibernate.

So, if you would like them to eat, play and grow, they need to have warmth, which is why I assume your water isn't 72-75F. But, I'm just guessing. What's the water temp?

If your water temp is sufficient, then what are you offering them to eat? Try some canned, rinsed tuna fish, perhaps, ...tiny pieces.

If that is okay, they might be sick. Is their skin puffy around their neck/shoulder area and in front of their hind legs where that skin meets their shell? I"m just trying to think of reasons they might not be moving/eating....

I a using a heater which keeps water at 76F pretty consistently, and they have been pretty active recently, an eating fine, as far as I can tell. Homer did have some loose skin hanging by his neck, and from I could find out that's f rom over-feeding theturtles, so I'v been cutting down what I feed him.

I mean, they do approach the dock/access ramp, and looks lie they are contemplaing going up, but jut seem quite skttish about actually climbing it; so far they just kind of hang at the end and swim away.

Maybe it'll just resolve and they start going up? I dont' know...

[ipaema_guy]

Now I can access your pictures. WoW!! Way cool set up.

Is it cold outside where you live? Sometimes having an aquarium next to a window, if it's cold outside..... Just going with my hunch that the water is a bit chilly for them. Some say the water should be in the upper 70's (degrees F) for Moe and Moe.

Yeah, the water is pretty consistently warm at 76F. It is somewhat cold out there right now, and I guess the outside temp could be a factor in this.

This morning I am conducting an experiment. I've turned th heat up, and pulled the blinds for the window. Hopefully this wil make the ambient temperature outside of the tank a little more enticing, it this was indeed the problm.

I'll keep you updated.

[rsour24]

cool set up, but id recommend taking out those rocks, they look too big for ur turtles to eat right now but it wont take long for them to be able to or find a small one to swallow that cancause serious harm or even death to your turtle.

[V Lou]

Oh, I misunderstood. It's Homer and Moe. I still laugh about Moe and Moe for their names. I haven't named mine yet. It's been hard. They deserve good names, so it's taking ForEver.

So, Moe is not eating or moving much still? The water is warm enough for him/er to be active/eating. Hummmm.... not sick. Homer is eating too much so the food must be a good choice.

Shyness.... are they alone enough? Instincts can keep them in the water for safty reasons. Basking is a very "private" matter. Fish are cool about people being in the room and having traffic, but turtles are so shy.

Do you think that room traffic could be playing a roll in Moe's inactivity?

[ipaema_guy]

Both turtles are eating fine now and are pretty active. Just need to worry about basking. I am hopeful they'll just get used to it. I am playing around with ambient temperatures and whatnot. Hopefully it's just their skittish nature.

[V Lou]

I'm so glad they are both eating!!! YEA!!!

Turtles help us practice the art of patience.

[ipaema_guy]

Ha! Moe just climbed up the ramp and is now basking on the ramp itself! I think it's going to work after all!

[honeeb6]

that's a really cool set up! I'm glad they took to their new basking area. I too just set up an ATBA and am anxiously waiting to see them basking. Today, I tried to lure them up by holding a piece of food just out of reach to see if they could climb up the ramp, they made it up the ramp but were hesitant to walk onto the platform. I left some food up there when I left for the day and it's gone so they went up there at some point, hopefully they stuck around and basked for a bit.

[n00bEmpty]

that's a really cool set up! I'm glad they took to their new basking area. I too just set up an ATBA and am anxiously waiting to see them basking. Today, I tried to lure them up by holding a piece of food just out of reach to see if they could climb up the ramp, they made it up the ramp but were hesitant to walk onto the platform. I left some food up there when I left for the day and it's gone so they went up there at some point, hopefully they stuck around and basked for a bit.

Not to burst your hope bubble or anything but your turtle most likely went up there, grabbed the food and rushed back into the water. Just depends, your turtle might be outgoing and go on the basking area or anything immediately or it could take even a week or more for them to think it's safe to go up there. To them then basking is sort of a "private" matter. My turtles are like that, I walk out of the room for a minute and they go up to bask and when I go back in they rush back into the water as fast as they can. Slyder is getting used to me right now so (s)he is still a little cautious but not trying to rush into the water immediately, might wait 2 or 3 minutes then move. Over time, your turtle might get to know you and feel safe.