HELP my YBS has been swimming in the water for about 4 hrs.is this normal and it is coming up 2 breathe alot.

Question

i just got my turtle today and the water was not heated at all it was at room temp.. i have done a lot of research on this breed. the air temp and the basking temp I'm not sure how warm those temps are either. but I'm planning on buying a water heater and a uva/uvb light for the tank but right now there is just a regular fish tank light on it and the light has been on for around 4 hrs. there is 2 basking areas and she has not gone out of the water at all. she is in a 40 gallon breeder tank with about 11 gallons and she is 3 yrs old and a female as you already know. i don't know if she doesn't know where the basking area is or if the air temp is too cold.. please help me!

Answer 1

They are skiddish animals..you two are new to each other. She has to get use to you and her new home.'

You both need time to adjust. My 2 girls are 36 yrs old and they still zip into the water when they see me coming. Then sometimes I can clean their pond and the sit on their basking rock and  watch me. They have poor eye sight and so they feel threathened like a predator is coming to get them.  Kepp his lite on and get about 20 feeder goldfish or guppuies or minnows and drop in his tank..he will be real active from all the exercise chasing his food.  Then he will bask to go to sleep cause he is so full.

Make sure that they need to bask under a reptile light for  8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that  they need to grow.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always.

Their water needs to be clean otherwise they get sick easily from dirty water cause they p**p allot.

You need a good filter system!

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily.

They need leafy greens for vitamins at least 3 to 4 times a week.

And a big tank 55 gallons or more before to long or you will stunt their growth.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29035692@N0...

Answer 2

why dont you try taking her out to the basking area and if she seems to go back in the water im sure she is fine or else she wouldnt go back in would she?

all the best