Feeding and Nutrition :: Question Please help

[Poz]

I just moved my turtle from a 20 gallon to a 55 gallon and he now has deep water... I am afraid he will drown... He cant touch bottom and have his head above water any more. Should I have a plant that floats at the top of the water?

[urbancleopatra]

don't you worry. they're natural swimmers. deffinitly have a place like aquatic plants for them to rest up a bit. he'll be ok.

[Poz]

ok man I am still so worried

[urbancleopatra]

lol such a parent. i would just make sure that the filter doesn't carry too much of a downward current for them. maybe angle it toward a wall or something so most of the swimming area isn't a whirlpool.

[Poz]

Ha saw him on a plant just now hanging on, dead out of water... thank god! I will be going to the store tomarrow for some more plants

[DavidY]

Yea, if the current is too strong it will tire him out. Is he able to hang onto the basking platform to rest and still be partially in the water?

[Poz]

yeah he can hang on to the basking platform. How do I turn the filter, I cant seem to get it to do anything but straight

[DavidY]

Is the output adjustable? What kind of filter is it?

[Poz]

It is a Whisper 40i

[Poz]

I just lowered the whole filter so it isnt so high because it was a very large water fall before not it is barely anything

[DavidY]

Yea that shouldn't be a problem then. Your turtle probably just needs to get used to the bigger tank and start exercising those swimming muscles.

[Starchick]

My turtles lived for at least 7 years in 10 gallon tanks with 3 inches or less of water. When we filled the tanks up, they were both fine. Napoleon had no issues whatsoever, Hercules got tired a lot but either held onto his dock or filter to rest, hung out at the bottom for a while, or hung out on the basking dock. He adapted completely within a few weeks and now he never stops moving. Turtles can hold their breath for a very long time, most turtles even sleep at the bottom of the tank, coming up only once in a while when they need to breathe. So they have plenty of time to take a break at the bottom if they need to. Unless there's something that is holding them underwater, or something preventing them from swimming correctly, they won't let themselves drown.

[industrial_girl_2000]

ok man I am still so worried

Don't be worried. In nature when they are born, they are in gigantic lakes that can be 10 feet deep or more & they don't drown!