Also new to turtles. I purchased 2 RES from a local pet store, but when I got them home I noticed that one doesn't appear to me a RES. Can someone tell me what type of turtle is in the picture?
The RES other turtle is a RES and seems very active and happy. The one in the pictures above, hasn't been very active and stays on the basking platform. Both turtles are the same size and were in the same tank at the pet store. They seem to get along fine, and I haven't noticed the RES bullying or vice versa. I purchased the Zoo Med reptihabitat kit (20 gallon), swapped out the original filter with a large canister filter, and swapped out the small basking platform with a zoo med medium turtle dock, added one plastic plant, two digital thermometers, and the tetra turtle aquarium heater. Yea...I should've just bought the tank that I wanted and not the kit. I plan on getting a much larger tank soon, but I am still shopping for a stand.
Water temperature from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM stays right at 77-78F.
Basking temperature hovers around 88-92F.
I have been leaving the compact UVB and halogen on from 7:00AM-7:00PM. I have left the UVB bulb off today because I have read a few post where these compact fluorescents can inflame their eyes, and I have noticed him scratching the side of his head/eyes. Other than being much less active than the other turtle, his eyes don't appear puffy (I don't think), and I haven't noticed any bubbles from his mouth/nose.
I've done the tetra 6-in-1 test strips and everything looks ok. I purchased some API ammonia test strips yesterday and it appeared to be maybe 0 to 0.5ppm, although it was pretty hard to differentiate the colors.
Any suggestions?