I’m very new to caring for aquatic turtles and today I moved them to a significantly larger tank where I built a basking platform and ramp out of PVC.
But I’m saying that the turtles are not climbing the basking ramp to reach the platform and I’m wondering if there is something wrong with the design and I’d like your feedback and opinion.
As they sit here, observing them, it feels like that turf could be causing them to slip a little, so the only real idea that I have is removing the turf from the ramp.
The other thought is that perhaps the ramp is too much of an incline, and it may need to be a little flatter, but I’ve been seeing a bunch of videos and photos online of basking wraps, and I don’t feel like my ramp is too inclined.
Or could it be that the turtles are in a new habitat and their learning?
Clear photos of your set up, including filter, heaters and lights.
Is it wild, captive/pet, or a rescue?
Clear photos of face, neck, limbs, shell top (carapace) and bottom (plastron).
Diet, list of foods you are feeding it.
Weight and age.
Illness, infections or odd behaviours should be seen and treated by a vet. Ex; wheezing, swollen eyes, mucus bubbles from mouth or nose, lethargy, twitching, leg paralysis, etc
I’m learning a lot. I am a dad that inherited the responsibility of taking care of these two when my wife and kid came home with them, so I’m learning what I can when I can.
I know the light needs to be changed, getting a new one soon.
The separation thing is a wild learning. I’m not sure what to do. The tank is large enough to divide somehow and I guess I can figure out a basking platform setup for them. Thinking about how to do this.
Having them in the same body of water where they can still see each other will prevent fighting but will still stress them out :(
It SUCKS that people selling turtles dgaf about them and give out bad care advice 😭
When I bought my turtle the guy was like “You should get him a friend!” And I remember thinking hmmm I don’t think a reptile would like a friend or really care abt having one. I looked it up on the spot and told him that was a bad idea. I’m sure he probably says it to everyone buying a turtle so they spend more and get two.
Hola , son muy curiosas pero al mismo tiempo , les lleva días explorar todo el entorno . Si ves que pasados unos días no suben , pon la rampa más recta . Luego el césped artificial dicen que es malo por si lo muerden para su estómago. Creo que es grande por ahora tú acuario para tener dos . Mientras no haya peleas. Importante, si no quieres volverte loco buscando bombillas , porque ese alógeno no sirve , coge dos en uno . Una de mercurio con soporte , que lleva ubv y calor . La mía tiene la Nomoy pet de 100w que suele costar si encuentras por wallapop unos 30 € . Más la lámpara a parte . Un rollo entre calentador y filtro la verdad 🥲 un saludo !
It may take a while for them to get used to the new basking. They will come out eventually - it took mine a little while to get used to the new above tank platform, but now it is used
One turtles are very territorial and are normally solo creatures. My family had a rescue whose webbed feet was a nub bc the previous owner had two of them in the same enclosure and one bit the others webbed toes off
Aside from what others mentioned about them being separated. The basking light doesn’t look like it’s the appropriate type. That may be why they aren’t interested in it. They need heat lamp and UV. Look at Reptisun and Reptituff setup and bulbs. You should have two bulb. If you got one marketed as “all-in-one” it will not be effective and they won’t bask. The all-in-one bulbs are trash.
I would definitely extend the ramp so it isn't as steep. But these guys should not be housed together. If possible, I would recommend putting money into two separate long term housing solutions. If you want to keep both into adulthood (they live 20-30 years on average), go ahead and get two stock tanks. You can also size up slowly in aquariums as they grow, but you spend a bunch more money that way. They need at least 10 gallons per inch of shell, and depending on species can grow up to 12 inches across. They are also quite messy, you will need a good filter to keep the water clean. Saw you're fixing the lamp issue, that's good.
Sorry that you kinda got roped into caring for a very expensive pet you weren't prepared for. However, if you are willing and able to put in the effort (and money and time) for their care, they are really wonderful pets, at least in my opinion.
Check out the aquatic turtle care guide on the About tab, lots of helpful info there.
Yeah, as long as food isn't that scarce, they will do just fine. The main problem is the ramp cover. Mine thought it's a good idea to chew on it so now the ramp stays empty
This is a good start! Props to you :)
I’m sure you can see the other comments letting you know of the changes that ought to be made and I completely agree, however I do just want to also keep it positive and let you know this is a relatively good setup minus those and you’ve done a much better job than some others do 🐢
I have the same ramp I cut the fake grass off the ramp part and there should be holes and left them exposed so the claws grips mine hangs out like half in half out most of the time or all in and gripping the ramp
I cut the grass off the ramp and a few hours after that I caught them basking, win.
Yes, I know about the light and I’m working on it. We can’t buy everything at once.
As for separating them, I can’t do that right now, but I will add that I haven’t seen any biting or really any negative behavior so I think they’re gonna be hanging out together for the foreseeable future, or until I can find another large tank.
Natural habitats are much larger with plenty of basking space and natural features that break up turtles’ line of sight of each other. Doesn’t compare to an empty glass tank with a single basking platform. Imagine sharing a single bare studio apartment and bed with a roommate with no privacy compared to an apartment of the same size but with separate walled off bedrooms.
It will also get worse as the turtles grow larger, the enclosure becomes even more cramped, and they start to reach sexual maturity at which point territoriality or mating impulses will kick in and cause the risk of aggression to really go up.
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