General Care Discussion :: help me!!!

[renleybaratheon]

I live in Las Vegas Nevada where there is little sources of natural fresh water. I found an adult Res about 5 or 6 inches long (just shell) behind my work and chose to take it in. I thought he would have died in the desert without a place to swim. I got him a big 75 gallon tank a basking plate two uva and uvb bulbs a submersible heater and fish to eat. He's been with us for three days, doesn't eat the fish, doesn't bask just swims around and follows me when I cross by his tank. I want to take him out to bask since he won't go on the plate but everything I've read says he will find his way up there on his own. I'm not used to aquatic animals and can't tell how he's feeling or what he needs. A little more info: the water is at 76 his basking plate about 84. Can't seem to get it higher. How long can they survive without basking? Reading into RESs I probably shouldn't have taken him in, but I'm not sure he would have survived in the desert. Please help I'm in desperate need of guidance.

[ataraxiamb]

You should see if you can up the basking temp. This can be accomplished by raising the water level so his plate is closer to the lights. It should be ideally around 90-95 degrees, and always 10 degrees warmer than the water. He may not be basking because the basking area isn't warm enough to tempt him. Also, if he's lived in the wild his entire life, it might take him a while to get the idea that this is where he basks. You might consider going to the pet store and getting him a ZooMed basking dock (it's a rectangular fake rock with suction cups to attach it to the aquarium). That will be a more stable surface for him to bask.

Edit: At his age/size, his diet should consist primarily of vegetables. Red or green lettuce everyday is recommended, and you can also purchase aquatic plants such as Anarchis and Wormwort for him.

[renleybaratheon]

Sorry yeah I meant about 90 degrees on his basking platform the therm which is a good 4 inchea above it reads 97 and I actually bought that exact dock. I'm just a nervous new owner. Everyone is telling me to let him do his thing and he will adjust but like I said I'm nervous. He's also shedding some heavy flakes of skin. I hear that chronically that could be an issue should I be concerned about it now ? I'm going to get a full check up sometime next week. Thank you for all the help.

[ataraxiamb]

No prob. Some skin shedding is normal. When I first got here, I was concerned because my turtle was shedding pretty heavily. It took a couple weeks, but he finished shedding and he's all back to normal. I'm sure the vet will be able to give you more info and put your mind at ease.

[renleybaratheon]

Thank you. One more question which I can not find any definite answer... how long can he not bask for?

[ljapa]

There are many users here who have moved their turtle to a new aquarium, or just changed the basking platform. Some have reported days before the turtle basks again.

The importance of basking is because the turtle needs the UVB rays to produce vitamin D3, which is necessary to metabolize calcium. That's why turtles that don't get access to UVB will have bone related deficiencies.

That being said, while basking (or some other source of D3) is critical for long term survival, it's not an absolute necessity for the short term. If you found your turtle in the Las Vegas sun, you can be assured it was recently exposed to UVB at much higher levels than a basking lamp will provide. At 5 or 6 inches, your turtle is past any quick growth spurts where it is laying down new bone at a fast rate. So, my guess is you could probably go weeks without any permanent damage due to lack of UVB. You can certainly go days.

UVB is important, but given your situation, it's not something you need to worry about for some time. And, you may actually find that the turtle is basking but not when you are there. You could try leaving one pellet on the basking area and seeing if it disappears when you are out of the room for some time.

You either have a pet turtle that was abandoned and may be traumatized or a wild turtle which is even more traumatized. In the wild a basking turtle is at the greatest risk of predation. I think they are instinctually cautious about basking, particularly in a strange area.

[renleybaratheon]

Thank you all so very much! Okay maybe a few more questions. Firstly I see Renley (Res) doesn't seem to have the upper arm strength to get up on his platfrom. Is there a way to build his strength? I put a platform under it and he uses it but doesn't seem to pull himself up after his feet leave the the bottom platform. I'll get him a full ramp when I can, but isn't he to young to not be able to do it. Secondly should I leave the light on all night incase he gets the urge to bask? And thirdly, he is constantly swimming against the tank walls and hanging out in corners. I'm figuring it could just be that he's not used to the tank. I hear its bad to let them out, causes them stress, but being a street turtle would that be so upsetting for him? I have no idea the life this guy may have been used to prior to living with us. Thanks once again for all the help everyone:-) .

[ljapa]

It's possible he's too big to get onto that ZooMed platform. My son's turtle is less than a year old and just barely 3", so I have no experience with a 6" turtle.

However, lots of the platforms like the ZooMed you see sold in stores are really targeted at the new, young turtles. I've built an acrylic above tank basking area (ABTA) with a ramp. Our turtle can use his rear legs to climb up to bask. I've seen lots of others here who have home built in-tank platforms made of PVC pipe. They too have a ramp.

With a 6" turtle and that platform where he can't use his rear legs to help push up, that may be part of the issue. The long term solution is probably an alternative basking platform. The short term solution may be to figure out if you can build up something underneath (rocks, an aquarium decoration?) to offer a better way up.

As to the light, no you should turn it off. Your turtle needs sleep and the light may interfere with that.

Can you post a picture of the tank setup?

The swimming against the glass could be anything, but for me and many, it's actually begging. Your turtle may just be saying, "Feed me! I'm starving! Can't you see how desperate I am?" Even though, it's all lies. It may be something else, but that's what it tends to mean for my son's.

[renleybaratheon]

I bought a new basking platform and he seems to be using it quite often I think I got the temps just right now. He is still 6 inches and I got him a 75 gallon tank. It has about 50 gallons in it. I'm going to fill it higher when I purchase another filter, my question is... when I get near his tank he begins to follow me and scratch the glass frantically. Is this normal? Is 50 gallons too little water? Is he bored and going stir crazy? What is everyone's opinion on letting him out every once in a while? I tried feeder fish a few weeks ago but he never ate any of them, should I try them again? Opinions on ping pong and other types of balls?

[tonyandlala]

Swimming frantically, constant begging, acting like they're starving; all normal and all an act. Don't overfeed, easiest mistake to make. 50 gallons sounds fine, I keep mine full, my girls love diving. I take both of mine, @ 2-3 years old, out quite often and initially were scared but now love it, walk all over the house, just be aware of stairs and surroundings. My girls love feeder fish and watching them chase them is a blast, but I only give them some rarely, @ once every month or two as a treat. Read the various articles on this site, excellent info.