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Hey everyone,
New to the site, old to my RES (had her since she was bout the size of a half dollar almost 11 years ago). I have her in a 75 gal and have recently built her a new platform above the tank so that she could have more swimming room. She wont use it and if i put her up there she will freak out and run back into the water. Previously the platform has hung inside the tank. I thought maybe she was scared being outside the tank so i put up a background on the plexiglass so she feels safe. I then decided just to give her time, figuring she would want to bask as she used to do ALL the time before, however its been quite a few weeks and no luck. Does anyone have any ideas? or will i have to go back to the old platform. I have included both the old one inside the tank and the new one outside the tank for you to view and tell me if you have any ideas!!!!

THanks for all your help!

1 st make sure the ramp isnt to steep and also give them time its new to them there just scared let them get used to it and make sure its warm enough

make sure there is about a ten degree difference from the water and the basking area. and yes, he or she needs to get used to it, sometimes takes days to almost a week. make sure his tank is not in a busy room. The more time he has to himself, the more time he has to try it out by himself with out being interuppted or getting scared.

the ramp and the basking light is all the same as the last one which they used all the time. its been over 6 weeks, im not sure they are gonna get used to it. every other time i made them a new one they were all about it right away, this time, i thought i was being nice and making it bigger and more room to swim and they hate it hmmmmm, i have a couple ideas, otherwise i guess i will just got back to to the smaller one

Try covering the sides and give her some more privacy but that ramp does look a little steep without enough traction. Could you lure her up there, to see if she can easily climb that?

The bamboo(?) ramp looks like it would be slippery when wet and would be difficult to climb...

When it was used with the old platform, was it shorter (looks that way in the pics)?

Hi, I was wondering what ever happened with your turtle. Did he/she ever go up to the new basking area? I am having the same problem. I got a Turtle Topper to provide a higher water level for more room to swim, but it's been 2 weeks and my turtle will NOT go up to bask. Sometimes I put him up there, but he wants to come down as soon as that happens. Your last post said that it had been 6 weeks... what did you end up doing? Does my turtle still have a chance of going up to bask by himself? I am pretty sure I have done all the right things: water temperature 76, basking temp 90, use water heater, etc. He is just super squeamish and scared of the new area. He used to have a floating dock but is too heavy for it, and he used to bask ALL THE TIME. Even with me right there at the tank. I am trying to be patient, but I also don't want him to end up with issues. It would be great if you can give me some advice or just tell me what ever happened with your turtle. Thanks! Sandra

Hi Sandra, you're replying to an old topic, so I'm not sure the OP will respond. Creating a new topic might help get more responses too.

As for the Turtle Topper, have you tried to lead your RES up there with food, to help him familiarize with it? Then leave some food on the top and see if he goes up there by himself.