My Painted Turtle Won't Go Onto His Dock?

Question

Ok, so I found this little painted turtle at a lake about 3 months ago. I just moved him from a 15-inch tank to a 30 inch tank yesterday. And now he won't go on his dock! The only time he does is when a cricket hops onto it. I'm afraid he'll get shell-rot. What should I do?

Answer 1

the water may be too warm or they dock may be too hot. its either one.

try changing the water just incase

Answer 2

They are skiddish..crickets are generally for a treat. In the wild they eat fish and leafy greens.

http://flickr.com/photos/29035692@N03/se...

The bigger the environment the bigger the healthier the turtle. Remember 10 gallons for every inch of turtle. I have used kiddy pools and plastic pond liners from most nurseries and worked great.

I am glad you got him a bigger home its so important.

Did you know that they need to bask under a reptile light UVA/UVB for 8 to 10 hrs a day for the vitamin D that they need to grow. Adjust to its at least 10 tp 12 inches from the turtles shell while he basks on his dock.

Leave the heater on 75 to 78 degrees always. These turtles in captivity do not hibernate their eating may slow down some but they will not hibernate.

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

Total Body length: 5-8" average, up to 12 inches max. Life span: 15-25+ years

Males have the longer front nails and are used in mating. And are considered mature at about 5 yrs old. You can’t start sexing till about  3” across.

You need a good filter system! Gravel larger than they can swallow.

You need to feed them feeder guppies, goldfish or minnows for protein and calcium daily drop 20 or so in the tanks and watch them disappear in a few days! When I got these two 36 yrs ago all we had in back then  were goldfish to feed , so after 36 yrs and still going strong. They can eat goldfish!

This way when they swim for their dinner they get exercise also!

They sleep at the bottom of rivers, streams. lakes or ponds or your tank to avoid predators like coyotes,  foxes, owls, hawks, possums, raccoons and even some wide mouth bass.

TOSS in a bird cuttle bone in the water for calcium. it will dissolve real slow and if they eat it that’s fine!!

They can have garden worms, meal worms, snails, crickets, flies, crayfish small frogs, dragon flies and  anything that moves, but only as a treat.

They need leafy greens Romaine, Butter lettuce. (Iceberg and cabbage are bad for them, any other leafy greens will do) for vitamin A that they need at least 3 to 4 times a week.

You probably already know that they get sick easily, shell rot, respiratory sickness, lopsided swimming, coughing, blowing bubbles from their nose.

**Swollen cloudy eyes means lacking in Vitamin A. Which we all need for good eyes. Google ‘vegetables with Vitamin A.

Contact the “www.anapsid.org/societies, for a turtle vet /  rescue in your city and state.

I wish you luck.

Answer 3

Lower the dock, or tip it sorta so its partially in the water. Is the temp too hot? Maybe he stays in the water because he is too hot. I had one that slept in the water and rarely went out. He even snored! Shell rot is not a concern until you don't see him out for hours on end. And it might be wise to bring him out into the house and let him explore- he may just be in the water out of boredom. Hope that helps.  

Answer 4

Think back to three months ago. When you first got him, did he go right up on the dock to bask or did he stay in the water until he got used to the tank? Don't worry about it.