Urgent Care :: Turtle not basking on own, mopey

[cutepanda86]

Hey there again.

Two days in a row, Sheldon has not basked on her own. I put her up on the basking platform when I get and she stays but only getting 3 to 3.5 hours of basking doesn't seem like much. She's still eating and my water and air temps are good too (76 water, 88 to 90 for basking, which she has always enjoyed).

Now, she has been trying to shed those scutes for a long time and they have yet to pop off. This can be a problem, I know but would that cause her to do what she's doing? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[steve]

Not likely related, I'm not sure if they even know they are shedding.

Still eating is good, she might just be taking a break from her exhausting turtle routine

I'll give it another couple of days, maybe offer her a treat or two.

[cutepanda86]

Ok. Thanks Steve. I'll keep an eye out and let you know how things go.

[cutepanda86]

OK so Sheldon is basking on her own and she's eating her pellets but she's not eating her lettuce and when she's not basking she kind of sits on the bottom of the tank. Now she will swim and do other things but she's hardly as active as she usually is. This has been going on for a while now and I'm wondering if there is something I need to do or if it'll pass.

Thoughts?

[steve]

Have you tried the veggie clips again? Does she ever act moody around seasonal changes? Have you changed when the lights go on/off?

My female RES has been a bit moody herself the last couple of weeks. Doesn't bask and just stays in the same spot underwater. Still eats like a pig though.

[cutepanda86]

I gave up on the veggie clips because they kept breaking. She always acts moody around the change in season. We should be in fall right now but we've been unseasonably warm. I haven't changed the timing of the lights. You think I should?

Pellets like a little piggy, turns her nose up at the lettuce which is typical when she's feeling off.

[steve]

What kind did you get? I have one that looks like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=4446

Lights don't need to be changed, but it wouldn't hurt either. I think the seasonal change isn't just temperature related. I think changes in humidity and pressure can affect them as well.

[cutepanda86]

Whoa. That one looks heavy duty. The pet store had these little fish shaped ones; they didn't have those.

I'll think about adjusting the lights. It might be the answer because I've noticed her sleep cycle seems a little off too. Thanks Steve.

[steve]

I also keep it out of the water, so my RES can't grab it

[cutepanda86]

I kept the fishy ones out too. Good ol' Sheldon would come flying in like I hadn't fed her in a month and whack it. Talk about over-excited.

[steve]

I've always suspected my RES are waiting for me to get too close to the tank so they can pull me in

[cutepanda86]

LOL Oh I know what you mean.

[steve]

If I stop updating the site, you know where to direct the search party

Oh, DrsFS is having free shipping right now.... code 5720/8663

[cutepanda86]

I'll make sure the search team has plenty of pellets to distract them.

Oh cool. Thanks!

[isktaine]

Have you tried the veggie clips again? Does she ever act moody around seasonal changes? Have you changed when the lights go on/off?

My female RES has been a bit moody herself the last couple of weeks. Doesn't bask and just stays in the same spot underwater. Still eats like a pig though.

I'm glad it's not just mine that's been acting like this! Interesting to hear about season changing affecting their mood!