Urgent Care :: stop HIDING UNDER THOSE FLOATING ROCKS!

[RES2friends]

I got four hatchlings RES. One is very outgoing so he eats and bask ontop of the rock I bought from a petland store, something called ZOOMED floating rock. However the other three went under the rock and sticked their heads out at the edge of where the rock and the glass meets. I even have my heater and basking light on.

The heater is on 24 hours at 82 F but I only have the basking light on for 5 hours because it's 50w, my parents will kill me on the electric bill; how long should I keep the basking light?

[kerby]

Basking for 8 hours and turn down the temp to like 78. My turtle hides under the filter and the under the dock I will post a pic if she does it soon

[steve]

How about a different basking area?

[mantis]

my map turtle did that for a while the started getting on the dock. he still does it from time to time though. all in all its kinda funny to see them do it

[dumbork14]

so cute!! when my turt did that i went crazy and removed the basking dock for a while, fearing that his head will be squeezed.

[RES2friends]

Another 24 hours have past I think I only have one out of the four turtles is left from hiding there. I think that turtle was traumatized after I used the net to catch him many times to change water (before I got a corner filter). How long does it take turtles to trust me? This one particular turtle is the only gamer who still continue the hide and seek game. If it continues to do that kind of thing it will starve to death when I am feeding on my turtles.

[Listen97]

My two turtles still don't trust me when I take them out or have them outside. Not a lot of handle time when they were younger because I lived in an apartment and couldn't take them outside often. Even still some will never get used to people holding and picking them up. Mine are comfortable enough to stay basking when I'm in the room and they swim toward me.

[RES2friends]

You're right. This is what I do. Whenever I approach them I will babble something randomly to let them know I am coming. It seems that they are more calm to see me approaching then without warning them in advance that I am coming.

So far I got all their trust to eat the pellets right off my fingers. They are eager to swim upwards and paddle with all their mights just to get the pellet between my fingers!

Use this tip, and hope your turtle understand you by your voice.

[Listen97]

I fed mine for awhile with my fingers until they got large enough to snap and fit my finger into their mouths. Lets just say if they get hold of you they don't let go easily and it hurts (take your finger and bite down with your K9 teeth on the nail and you'll get the idea).