My Sister's Crazy Turtle...

[rebsar]

Hi! I'm writing for my sister. She has a 6 year old male red ear slider. He hates to be in his tank. He floats vertically in the corner of the tank waiting for someone to walk by and then he swims frantically in whatever direction the person is going. He's out of his tank for about 5 hours a day and just follows her around or climbs up and sits on her. Is this normal?? Also, what can she feed him besides the floating sticks? He's not eating. He seems happy and healthy just not happy in his tank. Should she get him a girlfriend? Or boyfriend?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!
Jill

[Chez]

Hey rebasar, glad you found us.
I think that it is not normal for a RES to follow a person around and climb into laps. But that shouldn't suggest that it's a bad thing; if my slider did that, I would be amazed.

I think she is just a RES with a unique personality, a very cool thing.

You can try some plants like frill or anacharis/elodea. Give him enough and be be occupied for quite some time, not even paying attention to you. Beware of the mess that follows plant-play; it'll be like a snowglobe of leaf particles.

Other foods you can try are things like vegetables. He should be eating a lot of that at 6". Of the items listed in the Feeding Guide under the General Care section of GTT:r, the one's my turts like best are banannas, carrots, honeydoo, amazon swords, elodea/anacharis, and feeders, and snails.

What are the spec's of her setup
(it's geeky but we all love it )

[glow=blue,2,300]:Chez[/glow]

[Jinx]

Hi rebsar

Hmmm, not sure what to think and say realy ... I am of the old school thought and thinks that if the turtle is happier following the owner around, then there is no big deal, particularly if the turtle is healthy. My youngest turtle prefers to bask off to the side of the lamp on the corners of his tank (he uses the aerator things attached to the side to get up; then he just sits there for hours checking everything out or sleeping). My oldest turtle hates being removed from his tank, period, there is no excuse to remove him from his home, or at least that is what the glare he is giving me is suppose to mean i think. Each turtle too has its own unique character and personality.

I know of one person who has a RES that was never tank raised (lived in a tank). It was like a dog who had full access to the house and had a corner bowl of water one for sitting in the other eatting out of. And this turtle is 65yrs old. Knobby looking old fart is closer to the truth, but healthy and happy just the way he is.

Sounds like he may be bored in his tank. What is the set up like ... tank size, filters etc .... When my older turtle starts to beg and act needy, I go get him some fish to chase and play with, or i throw in a ping pong ball (or similar) and he plays with that for hours, plants are fun, but messy).

Both my turtles do the horizontal hang and the vertical chilling pose. You do know its all part of the grand beg anything and everything scheme, right? lol. Turtles, or at least everyone i met, have this awesome ability to look cute and look playful and look all baby eyed, but its all part of begging. Frantic swimming is also a ploy ... bet you or your sister stop when he, the turtle, does this, he's got your attention, phase one complete. Phase two .... look cute and loveable, make her go awwww. Now be playful and fun and make her grab that pellet can, well unless your coming from the fridge, then its all about bananas, apples, and carrots.

Finally, other foods besides pellets and meat. My oldest turtle wouldnt touch anything but pellets and fish (or other live aquatic critters) till he was like 15yrs old. I offered he ignored, and on went the battle for years. Sometimes I stopped offering for months - like 6-7 months, still not a nibble when it was offered. Then one day he ate the apple slices (leaving the skin behind). I tried pretty much everything ... bananas, tomatoes, grapes, apples (green and red, sour and sweet and mushy), peas, carrots, celery, the sweeter peppers, blueberries, strawberries and more. I noticed he tried orange and red fruits first, darker blues and purples were sniffed at first, always, and greens were always last. Always offer, but dont worry if he choses not to eat or even try it.

His favorites are grapes, carrots, apples, sometimes banana (i call it his old mans breakfast), and strawberries. Note that he never eats the skin, he might eat a whole half a grape in one gulp, but a bit after eating it, he always spits out the skin. Grapes I cut into halfs, straberries are whole normally (unless its one of those perfect round ones; he has trouble eating those sometimes), banana, i just peel and hold in tank for him, he eats what he wants then leaves. Apples and carrots are sliced; thick and thin.

Okay hope my book helps
Jinx

[rebsar]

Hi! Thanks for all the advice!! Her tank is 80 gallons and is about 4 feet long and 1 1/2 foot wide with a basking area with rocks. She asked if you can just get the plants at a pet store? And do you plant it in the rocks or let it float? Thanks for everything!!
Jill

[ultimus_j]

Yes, you can get them in fish stores. The plants can be left floating. Most turtles are messy eaters and tend to shred them to pieces, I recommend putting one small strand at a time to prevent clogging up filter. Leave the rest in a separate container.

You can also offer dark leafy greens except spinach- romaine lettuce, kale, escarole...etc. You can find them in grocery stores. Feed her fruits sparingly due to the high sugar content.

[csurfleet]

I think people have covered everything here, I just want to add that I wish my Turtles would come sit on me by choice! They don't complain, but they are happiest being in their tank where they can properly swim, and more importantly, beg for treats.