General Care Discussion :: No eating, no swimming

[Sheba]

I'm really frustrated. I got "Sheba" for Xmas, think I've got everything set up pretty well, good size tank, UVB, UVA, basking dock, plants. She hasn't eaten since I got her over two weeks ago. Won't go in the water either. Just sits on the dock and looks around. I've offered her all kinds of tidbits and just end up taking them out of the tank the next day. Water is at about 76, basking about 90. What could I be doing wrong?

By the way, I called the store where my daughter got her. They told me not to have that much water. To put about 4 inches on one side and build up like a beach on the other half. They also told me all they feed the store turtles are the pellets, crickets and goldfish. Geez...

Appreciate any ideas.

Kathie

[new turtle-lover]

Hmmm, maybe she is sick. You should raise the water temp to 80 degrees just in case.

[cam722]

Hi and welcome. First off, don't listen to the pet stores. 99.9% of what they tell you is WRONG. You may want to raise the water temp a few degrees, if it's a hatchling 78 degrees is rather standard. Do you have a water heater and thermometer, so you're sure what the water temps are and if they are fluctuating at all? What sort of foods are you giving it?

[Sheba]

I have several thermometers just to make sure temp is same on both ends of tank. She is about 4-5 inches so not real young. I have offered her: ReptoMin, romaine lettuce, radish leaves, bits of carrot, apple, banana, a cricket (which she just watched), I have a hornwort plant in there. Tonite I even tried some cat food. I will raise the temp and see if she responds to that in any way. Should I consider forcing her in the water?

[marisa]

You gave more than one temp to make sure which temp is the same at both ends of the tank--the water or the basking area/air? A submersible water heater will take care of the water temp, and you really don't want the air temp to be the same at both ends of the tank--you want a temperature gradient so that your turtle can adjust his body temp as needed by going to cooler areas. The warmest area should be the basking area (and as an experiment, I'd try lowering the basking area temp by a degree or two and raising the water temp to about 78F).

You're wasting valuable swimming space with that beach--better to get a real basking area.