Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello.
My female RES according to my boyfriend, is acting frantic and climbs the walls as if she wants to get out real bad. The thing is, they always do that climbing thing, both male and female. Should I be acting differently now? Should I take her out coz she may want to lay eggs? I have the couple almost 3 and a half years now, they both seem mature and the male tries to compulate the female but she usually doesn't let him. In my aquarium there is no land since I moved, I know it's bad, but its temporary. I take them out to the sun every now and then. Well what shall I do? If I do take her out to lay, what should I put her in? Thanks

You would be frantic too if you didn't have a way to rest when you were swimming. Get him some land NOW. He may drown if he can't rest.

It's good that you do realize that mature females need land access to lay eggs in. Your female can lay infertile eggs too if she has never mated. Yes, she could be wanting out because she needs to lay and if she is confined with a male and has no place to get away from his advances, that can be stressful on her too. Constantly being harassed to mate by males is stressful when they can't get away from them. Does she ever move her legs in a backward motion? Does she still have a normal appetite? Usually, a female needing to lay will go off feed directly prior to laying time. If she is eating normally, it may not be egg related. Outside would be better for them. As to what you could put her in outside, others may have better suggestions but you could get a role of 2 ft. high fencing and stake it down. Sometimes with fencing since the turtle can see through it, they spend alot of time trying to get through the fence. I have a big heavy rectangular plastic thing that is 2 ft. tall that was given to me that I use when I'm short on space. (I do rehab.) Whatever you use it has to be so they won't dig under or climb over. Wire must be bent over all around the top to keep the climbers in. Make sure they have shade too. Put some kind of shelter in her tank where she can crawl in and the male can't get to her. See if that helps her. Maybe others have better suggestions.
Turtle Care Information

Thanks 4 the replys. I took her out and put her outside in moist sand next to a small plasticon with water. I made sure she had some shaded spots and some sunny spots. I left her there undisturbed for a couple hours. Nothing happened, no eggs were laid. Anyways, I wanted your opinion on how to make a land area in the tank so they can rest. The tank is a meter long, panoramic. Any ideas? I've tried foam (with no success).

A couple hours is probably not long enough. Late afternoons are probably best too. Keep trying it for a while daily. How big is the female measured from the front of top shell to the back of it? Gosh, I didn't realize you didn't have a basking area for them or anything to hang on to. That's not good at all. You can stack bricks or large rocks or large upturned flower pots. Make sure the turtles can't move them so that they get trapped and drown. Again, maybe others have better suggestions. A meter long tank may not be large enough either for two sliders. Sliders will get very large. Turtles are much easier to care for outside and it's healthier for them too. It is probably wise that you visit this link for care info. to check yourself for other problems you may have.
water turtle care

You can buy a turtle dock. Your RESs might be too heavy for it but it's worth a shot. I would get the biggest one they have so they both can fit on it. At least they can hang onto it and rest, if they are too heavy for it and it sinks. Even sinking platform is better than nothing till you can find something better.