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Turtles/yellow bellied turtle

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Expert: Mark Adkins - 11/12/2007


Question
hi ya i have just goy a turtle and got everything you need to start with in the tank but the turtle keeps dashing up and down the tank and i dont know if this is normal or if there is anything wrong its looks like it wants to get out is there anything i can do.

Answer
Most of the things the pet shop tells you or sells you are often wrong, and I don't know what your set-up is.

Rapid dashing is not usually a good sign, but without detials I am not sure where to go.

What I CAN do here is point you at a great care site- http://www.redearslider.com

While designed for the Yellow-belly's popular cousin, the info works perfectly for Yellow-bellies anyway.

My guesses, however, are that the tank is too small or the temps are too hot or cold. The tank should allow about 10 gallons of actuial water for every inch of shell length, and the water should be heated to about 75-80F.

Good luck!

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Mark Adkins

Expertise

My specialty is tortoises, especially Red-foot Tortoises. I will try to help with any tortoise-related question I can. I will also help with general questions about things like behavior of wild turtles, etc. You can also try my website at http://www.tortoiselibrary.com

PLEASE- No water or box turtle questions. If you have a question about Box Turtles, Red-ear Sliders, Painted Turtles, or other turtles, please try a different expert or http://www.turtleforum.com. It is free and very helpful.

I am not a vet or a breeder, herpetologist, etc. I'm just a guy who likes tortoises. I reserve the right to send you to a website or forum if they have a better answer than I can offer rather than doing long cut-and-pastes, etc. I also will not second guess a vet or recommend home surgery or self-prescribing prescription meds.

Experience

Have kept tortoises on and off since 1965. Currently keep a herd of 4 'Cherry-head' Red-foot Tortoises. Have written extensively on this subject.

Education/Credentials
Associates Degree in Applied Science, Graduate- Tortoise Trust Course in Advanced Chelonian Husbandry

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