Habitat - Indoor

Hello all,

So I've just about finished the new ATBA. I'm still working on the other side of the tank, and a guard there - but I have a temporary solution up right now. I thought I'd take a video to show you all, and also at the same time ask you if your expert eyes can tell me if they see anything wrong in my turt. The reason for the new ATBA is he hasn't been basking much, if at all. I worry that he might be sick, or will get sick because of it.

The ATBA is brand new, so I don't know whether this will help or not. I have put him in it, and tried to "show" him how to get in and out. Haven't seen him try to go up it yet today, but I'm hoping he will soon!

I used strips of a tape made by 3M that goes on stairs, to prevent slipping. It's almost like, but not QUITE as rough as a sandpaper material. I don't think he'll have any problem gripping it once he tries. When he left the ATBA earlier (didn't stay in it very long) it definitely gripped on the way down. Maybe too much!

Anyhow, I tried to capture the whole setup, and him swimming around a bit. When he comes to the water, you can hear a little wheeze when he breathes. It's not incredibly loud but I'm not sure if that is a sign of sickness or not. He also chirps a lot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_lzGI-k5WM

Gertrude looks a lot like a boy to me. Big tail, long claws... Are you using the green ramp for her to access the ramp to the ATBA? I can't see where they meet up. Also, is the other side of the green ramp still there? Because he/she would have a hard time climbing up just the high side.

The shell looks like it needs to shed scutes, maybe? Others will have a better idea about that. But he/she looks healthy to me.

If it's possible for her to get an arm onto the ramps, then she'll eventually climb up. Just might take a while for her to get acclimated. I've changed the level of water and thus level of my basking area a couple times, and Bill had a hard time catching on at first. Or if he did, he'd just get right down. If it's accessible, I think she'll figure it out.

Yes - Gertrude is a boy. haha. You'll notice I used "he/him" in the post. The poor guy just got a name before I knew what he was so... now that's what he's stuck with. LOL

I used the other half of the green ramp for the ramp up to this ATBA. I just removed the green strips and replaced them with this black 3M step tape. Pretty grippy stuff. The other half I left in the tank under the ATBA as a sort of mid-level resting place. They don't connect.

I'm hoping he starts going up soon! He wasn't basking much before this either... hence the new build.

Thanks for replying!!

The tank looks very nice. have you left food up there for him? Maybe slightly increase the basking them to draw him up there. You should have something that agitates the water surface a bit. I didn't hear the breathing, though its usually normal. My female RES sometimes breathes heavily and makes a whistling sound. He's also in the midst of becoming melanistic.

Thanks Steve! I have not left food up there yet. Is there any particular food that I should leave up there? I would imagine any veggies would dry out too quickly, no? Plus, he's not very keen on veggies when I have tried (although he does eat Anacharis) Any suggestions would be great!

As for agitating the water, you're absolutely right. I used a spray bar before, when the water line was lower, but now I'll have to reconfigure the output from the filter so that it breaks the water's surface... I already noticed some grime collecting on the surface.

Thanks for your insight on the breathing! That makes me feel better...

I actually have a webcam on Gertrude as we speak! I figured I could try and monitor her during the day to see what she does. I don't think she's been basking though... I'm hoping to catch evidence to the contrary, but so far, nothing...

I took another video of her this morning, just swimming into the wall, as she often does... I'll post it here! any ideas on what might be causing the changes in behaviors? This turtle seems to go through spurts of behavior. For a while she was always trying to climb out of the tank. Now she doesn't do that, but never basks and always swims into the glass.... strange little creature... love her/him though!

Here's the newest video... he does this a lot. If I am sitting on the couch watching TV or working, he'll do this indefinitely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn1eijA25C4

So I've been watching him on the webcam most of the day.... A lot of swimming into the wall, like in the video above. I saw one attempt to get up the ramp, but it was half-hearted...

It looks like he is swimming towards the light from outside. Maybe try to place a piece of cardboard on that end and see if he still does it. Also, check the ramp's angle too. When I had my acrylic ramp, my turtle could not get on because it was steep so he gives up.

Try putting some freeze dried shrimp up there. That's how i got my turts to go up the ramp. I used bathtub tape on my ramp and its not very steep!

ComeAtMeTurtleBro wrote:It looks like he is swimming towards the light from outside. Maybe try to place a piece of cardboard on that end and see if he still does it. Also, check the ramp's angle too. When I had my acrylic ramp, my turtle could not get on because it was steep so he gives up.

unfortunately I've tried putting up carboard, white board, black board... nothing has helped in that regard.

I guess I'll have to try and figure a way to reduce the incline of the ramp. It's just part of the ramp that he used before, so I would think he could get up this one, but maybe he's having a hard time. I may need to find an entirely new ramp - not sure how I would change the angle on this current one....

You can also try drilling some holes it it to allow the turtle to grip it better with their claws.

When ever my turtle see's me he tries to swim towards me. if I am visible, he will always do that.

When i leave the room for a period of time, and he has a chance to relax, he will get back up on the driftwood, but as soon as he sees me again, swimming towards me.

I think this behavior is normal.

p.s. i have not read all the comments, but if you keep the water temperature cooler, he will be more enticed to go up top especially if the basking area is in the mid 90's

Hey Mark, where'd you get that ramp?

Ant wrote:When ever my turtle see's me he tries to swim towards me. if I am visible, he will always do that.

When i leave the room for a period of time, and he has a chance to relax, he will get back up on the driftwood, but as soon as he sees me again, swimming towards me.

I think this behavior is normal.

p.s. i have not read all the comments, but if you keep the water temperature cooler, he will be more enticed to go up top especially if the basking area is in the mid 90's

Thanks Ant! I totally agree with you, my turtle will always swim towards me, or anyone, if we're in the room or near her tank. But my turt is doing this even when no one is in the room. I have set up a webcam to confirm, and I can confirm. I had an idea he was anyways because I could come out of another room in the house and before I am ever in sight of him, I can see him swimming towards that wall... little guy is doing it right now as I type this!

I have ensured that all my temperatures are ideal. The water is between 72-74 degrees, give or take a degree or two depending on if I have my heat on in the apartment. And the basking area is anywhere from 85 - 95 degrees, depending on where you measure the temperature.

steve wrote:Hey Mark, where'd you get that ramp?

Hi Steve - it's half of this ramp:

http://www.amazon.com/Kordon-Oasis-Turtle-Ramp-Medium/dp/B0002DIM9G/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1362839698&sr=8-8&keywords=turtle+dock

I cut off the side of the ramp that is just one incline, and used that as the ramp to the new ATBA. I thought it would be just fine for him, as he used this ramp when it was in the tank with no problem, meaning the incline wasn't too steep. On top of that I have replaced the green tape with more "grippy" black 3M tape that is meant to go on stairs to prevent slipping. It's not as rough as sandpaper, but it's closer to sandpaper than tape.

Habitat - Indoor :: New ATBA (and is something wrong with my RES?)

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