caseyerin
New Member
Hi! I have an African Sideneck Turtle and have had him for about 3 years now. When I first got him, I had him in a 20 gallon tank and now he is currently in a 60 gallon tank and has been for about a year.
I just bought him a new filter, because the old one was a small filter and a rock formation that took up too much room without letting the turtle climb. I added new water to the tank today, cleaned all the rocks at the bottom of the tank and removed the old filter and added the new filter. I added water at a higher level then usual to allow him some more swimming room (still with access to a basking dock) but it seemed he couldn't swim up to the top of the water. I left him unattended for about 10 minutes and came back to find the turtle on his back at the bottom of the tank. I immediately pulled him out of the tank and put him in a plastic container (his temporary storage while I clean the tank). He did move and is currently trying to escape his container, as usual.
I did remove a lot of water and left the new filter in, it is still working very well. The water is colder than usual, at 68, as it was still warming to the appropriate temperature but should be between 70-75 within the hour.
I should also add that I am a teacher and this turtle is in my classroom, so usually I leave him for the weekend. It is Friday afternoon and I am nervous to put the turtle back in the tank and leave. Any advice would be appreciated!
I just bought him a new filter, because the old one was a small filter and a rock formation that took up too much room without letting the turtle climb. I added new water to the tank today, cleaned all the rocks at the bottom of the tank and removed the old filter and added the new filter. I added water at a higher level then usual to allow him some more swimming room (still with access to a basking dock) but it seemed he couldn't swim up to the top of the water. I left him unattended for about 10 minutes and came back to find the turtle on his back at the bottom of the tank. I immediately pulled him out of the tank and put him in a plastic container (his temporary storage while I clean the tank). He did move and is currently trying to escape his container, as usual.
I did remove a lot of water and left the new filter in, it is still working very well. The water is colder than usual, at 68, as it was still warming to the appropriate temperature but should be between 70-75 within the hour.
I should also add that I am a teacher and this turtle is in my classroom, so usually I leave him for the weekend. It is Friday afternoon and I am nervous to put the turtle back in the tank and leave. Any advice would be appreciated!