Habitat - Outdoor :: " Uneven" basking behavior

[nancev1]

I adopted 2 female res last summer & my/their pond was the first outdoor pond they had ever been in (it's 12 ft. x 20 ft., 4500 gallons; 6 adult koi also live in the pond). They successfully made it through the winter (in Maryland) & in March both began basking like crazy, i.e. spending as much as 8 hours every day in the sun on their favorite rock, especially Rosie, the more assertive (Lily is very shy). However, for the past several weeks I've only seen 1 turtle at a time on the rock & maybe for just an hour, sometimes less. On a few days neither one has appeared at all. This recent behavior is similar to the pattern they demonstrated from mid-summer when they came to live with me last year. I assume they are still in the pond - no way for them to escape unless they grow wings - as food keeps disappearing. But I'm worried about them getting enough sun & miss seeing them every day. Because I've only been seeing one at a time for about two weeks, I'm worried that something has happened to one of them. Anyone have any insight or advice to offer? I'm a very anxious turtle mom!

[marisa]

Welcome. How warm is it where you are now? Perhaps they're basking less because the temp is getting a little warm for them. Are you sure you're seeing both of them basking? Could they be basking somewhere else in the pond where they're not so easily seen.

[65 Rambler Lady]

I also have been wondering about our turtle as we have not seen him for about a week now. (will be a week Sunday)

He lives in our pond and like Nancy's, unless he can fly, he can't get out as the pond has straight sides. Our pond is 1100 gals and is about 3 and a half feet deep.

Anyway, I digress - we have put food out and he has not been up to eat. Usually we see his head at least sticking up thru the plants.

I have been so worried about him that I made my hubby take apart all of the structure in the pond on the off chance he may have gotten 'stuck' somewhere, but he was no where to be found. Now to be fair, Tuttle is pretty quick when he wants to be and if he was disturbed (have seen the koi make him move), he's fast and if you aren't looking, you'd miss him.

He was coming up on his log very regularly and we enjoyed him immensely just watching him take in all his surroundings. However, we haven't seen him and to say that I am sick would be an understatement of the greatest magnitude.

There are plenty of plants down there and at water level he could munch on and some of them do show signs of chewing - however as anyone with koi knows, they like to 'chew' as well (actually it's more like rip!)

We have had some pretty bad storms here, but nothing has fallen in the pond and the only change we made to his habitat the day before his 'disappearance' was to add an additional aerator to compensate for the summer O2 depletion. Temps were hot - mid 90's. water temp is currently at 72 degrees and we finally have cooled off into the mid 70's. The water temp has not gone above 75 as we always 'add' water for the fish to play in each night with the garden hose aerator.

Pond ph is right where it should be, water is clear, bacteria level is good, nitrates/nitrates are good........

Someone please tell me a hawk or a canada goose didn't swoop and get him. Even our neighbors are on the lookout for him. Our yard is fenced and about the most ferocious animal we have is a black squirrel who throws things at us from the tree when we sit outside. We have a dog who stays out most of the day and scares away most of the birds (except robins and sparrows know he isn't quick enough), so I doubt if any other predator could have gotten him except from above. I hate to even think of that happening.

Should I just keep putting food out there for him? I am so sad. I want him to come back or at least show his head so I know he's ok. I really don't want to think of anything happening to him.

Thanks in advance for any advice .... or condolences.... ;-(

[steve]

Sorry to hear you can't find him. You may want to do an extensive search of the pond, perhaps that is the only way you might get any answers.

edit: I'll repost here: http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16285