Habitat - Indoor :: Basking Sleep

[BRuTAL_HiTMAN_]

So I've been toying around with idea of getting this heating pad:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2752461

and setting it up to only run at night under the sand of my basking area, since my 18 yr old RES always sleeps in the water at night, probably because the basking area is too cold. Obviously she's fine with this since she's been doing it for 18 years, but would keeping the basking area warm at night be a good idea?

Has anyone experimented with something like this? Any good reasons to not try it?

[VeipaCray]

I think most RES sleep at night in the water.

[BRuTAL_HiTMAN_]

yeah i know in captivity they usually do, in the wild they prefer shallower water i've heard, enough to just poke their nose slightly above the water line. their oxygen consumption decreases so much at night that they only wake up every so often for more air. however i've seen my RES wedge itself between the basking area and the edge of my tank while she sleeps, so mine obviously prefers to sleep while being able to breath, so why not make it easier on her and heat up the basking area with a mat at night?

[VeipaCray]

I wasn't dismissing your heat mat idea. I'm curious if you heat the basking platform at night if she'll sleep up there of if they will still prefer to sleep in the water for security.

It sounded like you were questioning why your RES sleeps in the water vs the basking platform.

[BRuTAL_HiTMAN_]

oh no no no, my curiosity is just that, if i can heat up the basking area and keep it warm and dark at night, do you think she will use that to sleep on, or would she still prefer the water, and are there any issues with trying to encourage her to sleep above the water with heat.

[steve]

It's believed that they feel safer in water, which makes a lot of sense based on their behavior. I wouldn't use it if there was no way to regulate temps. If that thing is putting out temps of 100, then it's too warm. My dry docking temps are around 72-80, 85 would be the max I would use (regarding extended periods).

[Love of Animals]

Your res wants to sleep in the water for security reasons. She most likely will not sleep in the heated basking area. Why not put in some decorations so she can be partially submerged with her head out of the water. My ramp to my ATBA is shaped in a way that my turtle just gets on it with his head out and goes to sleep. There wouldn't be any issues if she does decide to sleep on the heated basking area but she most likely won't and your electric bill will rise.

[BRuTAL_HiTMAN_]

decorations aren't really an option for my setup, they'll be knocked over too easily. it shouldn't be too hot, that heating pad has had pretty good reviews, it was used in europe for a long time before it made it over to the US market, it's even rated for direct skin contact with reptiles. basking area is around 90 degrees or so. and yeah i know they sleep in the water for security reasons, especially in the wild. but obviously she won't sleep in a room temp basking area when water temps are 76 degrees, that's why im thinking of trying a heated night time basking area.

im thinking the enclosed basking area and being in a non-threatening environment WITH a heat pad might encourage her to sleep up there. has anyone ever attempted this before is mostly what im looking for? or are there any health risks associated with them sleeping above water? i know several reasons WHY they normally sleep in the water, so that's not really what im asking