General Care Discussion :: Sheldon excessively basking and pooping

[cutepanda86]

Hello all.

Sheldon has done this twice in one week now - middle of the night she gets up on her basking platform. Tried to put her in the water, she freaks. This morning I discovered she needed to poop. Now, she slowly worked her way back into the water to do so and is fine now in the water. Do I call the vet? Why would she do this a week apart and pooping like 5 times in between with no trouble?

[steve]

I've no idea, maybe weather related. It's been awhile since I've seen night basking but it doesn't sound like I would do anything different in this situation at the moment. I think the weather has been making my turtles weird too - they are in separate tanks and cannot see each other but both were not basking, then basking a lot.

[cutepanda86]

I was thinking the same thing. Both nights the odd behavior occurred the weather shifted and we finally got some rain. We're dryer than the desert up here and we desperately need the rain. I'm going to clean the filter tomorrow and install a fresh basking bulb tonight so we'll see how that goes.

Sounds like your little ones are all over the map too Steve. I guess the only time to panic would be if she continues doing this for more than a few nights in a row.

[steve]

Yeah, I try not to look too deep into it but I wish there were ways to accurately figure them out.

[cutepanda86]

As do I. I think it would lead to a lot less nervous turtle parents.

[steve]

Definitely, it makes me question myself when they don't act like themselves.

[cutepanda86]

They certainly like to keep us on our toes. Little stinkers.