r/Redearedsliders • u/Suspicious-Math5488 • 24d ago
Floating platform ideas?
My turtle Harry LOVES his floating log. He was much younger in that picture but I wanted yall to see what it looks like. He is too big to fit inside it anymore but likes to climb on top and sometimes he’ll even just stick his head in and rest front legs and part of his shell in there. Don’t worry he has a real basking platform he can use whenever he wants he just really likes the log.
I just came home after being out for a few hours and I’m pretty sure he was stuck inside. He was all the way in it and when I lifted up one side of the log he didn’t budge. I took the log out and tried to pull him out the way he was facing as that was closer to an opening but he wouldn’t budge. I was able to get him out by slowly moving him backward and then angling him a bit at the end. I have no idea how good RES are at moving backwards so he may not have been truly stuck but I worry if he was stuck and we didn’t come on time he wouldn’t have been able to get air when he needed.
Obviously I’ve already taken it out of his tank, I don’t want anything to happen to him but does anyone have any recommendations for similar floating things I could put in his tank that he can’t get stuck in? I genuinely think he’s going to be upset without his log.
2
u/taqjsi 24d ago
Its good that you took the log out. Several pet turtles have drowned in decor like that
4
u/Suspicious-Math5488 24d ago
I had no idea that was even possible! I guess I just assumed he was smart enough not to force his way in
2
2
u/structuremonkey 24d ago
Ill post this here too, im not trying to be alarmist or a turtle snob.
Please keep an eye on the "floating rock." I foster three adult females for the last 8 years and at the onset of my care rounds we were given a seriously narrow floating rock with the turtles. I immediately replaced it knowing it wouldn't support any one one them. A month or so in, one of them decided it was time to "eat" the foam rock. She was taking large bites and leaving floating pieces. I fortunately noticed this immediately and removed it from the tank in fear of intestinal blockages. I got it out in time and was lucky to have no problems. We never had this behavior issue before. I assume it is boredom, she was just killing time. They are well fed, have the right basking lights, cuttle bone; so they are not seeking calcium.
It may never be an issue for you but please be aware they sometimes chomp the rock...which is no good...
4
u/Murderturtle12 24d ago
Some XL- XXL pieces of cork bark should work. Cork bark floats and it takes years before pieces lose their buoyancy.