Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone, I recently got a female res from my local pet shop. She is very skittish and wants to always hide under something on the bottom of the tank... is this normal? I place her on her island and she doesn't ever stay shes always back in the water in 2 seconds! What can i do to make her happier? She is about 6 inches. Could she be wild caught?? I just want her to be happy. She is in a 50 gallon aquarium with a basking light to one side. Thanks!

Your turtle is perfectly normal in wanting to hide under things especially if she is new top the home and not yet accostumed to her surroundings. My turtle was like that at first too. But the basking proble could be for other reasons too. I n=know you love your turtle, but it probably isn't helping to pick her up and put her on the island, as long as you have a slope she can easily walk up to get to the basking spot, she will find it on her own. Also, if you have a tank heater, make sure the water isn't too warm, when I first got my turtle i kept the water at like 80 degrees and she wouldn't come out to bask, so when I turned it dow to 70 she was out basking for half the day! One last thing, just because you dont see her bask doesn't mean that she doesn't, I have a turtle that will scoot off her rock quick as lightening whenever I come in the room. But sometimes if I sit in the room for a while, reading or some other quiet activity, she will creep back up, thinking i am gone. Good luck! (:

If it makes you feel any better, I have a 2 y.o. I've had since she was like 1" and now she's about 5.5" and she does not bask, at least not when I'm around, I've caught her in the act very rarely. I'm going to try cooling the water off a little per the last post just to see what happens, but my point is even though I worry she's not normal, since I'm under the impression that RESs bask tons, she eats well, has a smooth hard & lovely shell, etc., so whether she's just basking on the sly or she's just not into it, it doesn't seem to be causing her any harm.