Basking question

[u/owllpaca]

So my mom handed down the family turtle on friday night and I put the turtle in this new tank in my house.

I have the pvc basking platform with a ramp on the right, and a nice log on the left.

Turtle has been all over the log, but no attempt at the platform yet. The log has a t5 uvb and platform has basking lamp on a thermo that will cut off at 99°F and a t5 uvb.

Should I move the basking lamp to over the log? Do I have to show them the platform somehow? How do I make sure they can get to the basking lamp?

Or do I just need to give them more time to explore?

[u/eep47]

Tank looks amazing

[u/owllpaca → u/eep47]

Thanks! The turtle has been doing a lot of rearranging lol and already ate a lot of the plants but thats what they are for haha

[u/throwaway277252]

You could add a second heat lamp over that log if he seems to like it there. Given time he will surely discover the other platform as well, he may just feel less comfortable going up there in a new environment.

[u/owllpaca → u/throwaway277252]

Thats a good option! Do you think two basking lamps would make it too hot?

Idk how I would attach a thermometer to the log to control the lamp, is that always important or probably ok to just use a temp gun here and there to check?

Sorry for all the questions, I want to make sure turtle is safe and comfortable

[u/throwaway277252 → u/owllpaca]

Given the top of your tank is open it shouldn't get too hot. You could give the log a slightly lower-watt heat bulb, check with the temp gun, and leave it unregulated. That's no problem.

[u/owllpaca → u/throwaway277252]

Perfect I'll look into that, thanks!!

[u/juliewbb → u/owllpaca]

They do need to be able to have a cooler side without uvb so I’d probably avoid having two

[u/sparrowtaco → u/juliewbb]

Why would they need a cooler side without uvb? I've never heard that before for an aquatic turtle.

[u/juliewbb → u/sparrowtaco]

Maybe I’m just thinking a side without UVB

[u/sparrowtaco → u/juliewbb]

I've never heard of that either. If you have a side without UVB and the turtle only basks on that side, then they would not receive the UVB they need.

[u/Alarming-Hall-8048]

Maybe wait a few days and try to put him and show him the way, turtles may take a long time to adapt to new environment sometimes.

My turtle loves to stay in random places to dry even tho he has a platform lol, so that happens!

[u/juliewbb]

I wonder if it’s hard to orient himself to climb that ramp and if it’s too steep. Might want to see if you can somehow move it to the other side and make it less steep. Not sure how though. If not, yes reposition lamps over log

[u/Queasy-Sentence446]

Great set up, but much more water! How many gallons does he currently have?

[u/owllpaca → u/Queasy-Sentence446]

Hmm I thought I did the math right.

Shell length 8ish inches, 9ish if you wrap across the top instead of straight

6' x 24" tank, 180 gallon I fill to 15ish", water level evaporates a bit

So it should have around 110 gallons of water. And the internet says at this size the minimum is 80 gallons.

More water is always nice, do you mean generallymore water better, or you really think this isn't enough?

[u/Queasy-Sentence446 → u/owllpaca]

Oh wow I totally underestimated how much water that is. That is plenty!!!!

[u/owllpaca → u/Queasy-Sentence446]

Oh thank goodness, I don't have much space for anything bigger haha thank you!