Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a two yr old male and I've just transferred him to a 30 gallon tank about 1/3 full of water and some rocks to bask on: he doesn't actually swim, he kind of just crawls around - shouldn't he swim? And his shell has a few thin, fingernail like scales on the scutes that look like they're peeling off - I've never noticed him shedding before, is this normal?

Red Ears do shed on their shells as well as their body.

when you say your slider is crawling around, do you mean on his haul out area (where he can bask etc.) or at the bottom of the water section? SLiders can swim quite well but if there isn't much room for them to move around, they may not be able to swim well.

Unfortunately I don't know alot about RES's to really guess much more. There is a very interesting acticle on their basic are and husbandry needs in the July issue of Reptile Magazine. Might be worth picking up. Hopefully one of the more experienced RES keepers will post more detail suggestions than I can.

Thanks - he's actually swimming a bit now - I'm deepening the water so he has a better chance at it. I think he was working on settling in. Still no eating of the greens, but I'm still trying. Almost all the thin shelly stuff is now off his shell so I hope that was normal shedding. He seems happy enough, but he still bolts off the basking rock when I surprise him

Once he gets used to you, I am sure he will not dive into the water everytime you enter the room or come near. They do need some time to adjust to new changes and a new home. I don't think RES are big veggy eaters actually but I could be wrong on that. Some good articles in the last or recent last (either the June or July) issue of reptile magazine about caring for RES's. I can't remember if I mentioned that already or not. If i have, sorry for repeating myself.