Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I don't know if my turtle was restless tonight or just playing, either way it was awfully cute. I was watching TV and noticed him swimming "Laps" in the tank. He would duck down from the ledge near his basking area, swim across the bottom of the tank under the heater and intake tube for the filter, pull himself up and rest against the "greenery" I have under the filter waterfall (he likes the falling water) and then he would swim back across the tank the way he came from. He must have done at least 10 times. He stopped a few times, distracted by the feeder fish, but would continue with his "laps"

Does that sound like restlessness? Or was he playing?

when my RES was a baby he used to do the same exact thing! He'd swim from one part of the tank to another part in an endless succession of "laps".

That was 3 years ago and he's fine and well today. At that time I also had a fish in there with him to keep him company so no, i don't think it's restlessness necessarily.

It seemeed to me like some sort of territorial thing, like he was feeling out the tank or something.

but speaking from my own experience I think it's something they grow out of. My grown turtle certainly doesn't do it anymore.

-katie

That is so cute. I just love watching my turtle. I can never tell if he's content though. Lately my finger touching the side of the tank no longer scares the little bugger which is a good thing and he doesn't duck down as much when I give him food. He even comes to me at feeding down (signal for feeding is me turning the filter down so less turbulance in the water).

He's been in the tank for a few months now and really misses being in there if I take him out. WHat's really funny is if I put him down briefly on the table near his tank he will actually try to get back in. Like standing and staring into a shop window, it's just too cute. He knows his home which is a shame because I'm going to be destroying his little world after Xmas when I change his 10 gal tank to a 23 gal rubbermaid container.

>>when my RES was a baby he used to do the same exact thing! He'd swim from one part of the tank to another part in an endless succession of "laps".
>>
>>That was 3 years ago and he's fine and well today. At that time I also had a fish in there with him to keep him company so no, i don't think it's restlessness necessarily.
>>
>>It seemeed to me like some sort of territorial thing, like he was feeling out the tank or something.
>>
>>but speaking from my own experience I think it's something they grow out of. My grown turtle certainly doesn't do it anymore.
>>
>>-katie