Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a hachling RES from a pet store and since they could'nt sell them I bought the setup and got it as a "present".I've done alot of reading and visting websites and I wanted to know if ther is any unwritten rules for turtles that I would of not of learned.Also I would like som help with taming I've had it for 2 weeks the first week I had it in the bed room and it hide every time I came in the room so I moved it into a more trafficed area
when i could adjust to us.I have him out of the tank a couple minutes a day and he runs around in my hand I want to know if ther is any traing secret i need to know.Also i have a dry basking area for him but he never uses it and stays in the water all day long is this normal I read that they can get very sick from this please help!

Try hand feeding him with tweezers and he should start being more interactive with you in a couple months and as for the basking just let him be, eventually he will and usually he will do it when your not home. he will probably be seen basking if you look at him from far away and sneak up on him really slowly he will jump off at first but after a while he will just stay there. good luck

a dry basking area isn't enough. You need a basking light. You need a source of heat that is about 85-90 degrees. they like the heat and use it to help regulate their own body temperature. It needs a light that puts out UV-B rays, so either get a flourescent that does this and an incandescent for heat, or get a good uv-b bulb for both.

Also, you need a fliter...I'm hoping the store included that in the kit. I got an Eheim 2213 in my 29 gallon tank and the water stays crystal clear. The turtles seem to really like it.

I got a res amount 6 months ago and was pretty paranoid about everything. First off, you should definitely consider get a basking light, filter, UVB light and water heater to make sure the env is good. It took a couple of weeks for my baby res to even eat anything. And a couple of months for it to get comfortable enough to not freak out. Finally after about 5 months, it was calm enough not to go crazy when I walked by. Give it time. My turt didn't seem like he was basking for a while and it wasn't until later that I caught him basking but if I come by, he'll jump back into the water.
I actually used my binoculars once to see him from a distance!
I've heard not to scare the turt too much and also to him them in a high traffic area so not sure what is the best advice.
I created a cover that I mounted on the front of the tank so I am around, he won't see me. I noticed he started basking more. Eventually, when he got used to it, then I left it off from time to time.
I just got a new turt and he is not eating as much and definitely freaks out. Doesn't bask as much so I figure that's how new turts act.