Firstly, take a complete 360-degree unboxing video to avoid any issues such as the turtle “passing away” during transit or the seller sending the wrong turtle. Keep evidence and carefully inspect the turtle for any problems.
Precautions for Water Level During Resting
After inspecting and finding no issues with the turtle, find a container for it to rest in quietly for a few hours, as the journey through express delivery can be jarring. After a few hours of quiet rest, add a small amount of water and continue the rest period. The water level at this stage is crucial; it should only reach the edge of the shell, never covering the turtle’s carapace. Providing a little water for the turtle to drink is sufficient to avoid excessively high water levels. Some turtles may feel unwell after several days of transit and are extremely susceptible to choking on water or even drowning, similar to how some people feel carsick and extremely uncomfortable. After several days of jostling, if a turtle is particularly uncomfortable, even a very shallow water level could potentially drown it.
Determining the Resting Period
Then, how many days should we keep the turtle in shallow water for resting? Some say two or three days, some sellers suggest ten days, and some even require half a month. Here, I recommend that novice friends strictly follow the breeding guidelines provided by your sellers to avoid disputes if any issues arise with the turtle. If you have experience, you can judge based on the turtle’s condition.
After a period of resting, as long as the turtle does not show any particular stress and does not keep its head and limbs curled up, it will be in a very natural state, sticking its head out and casually observing the surrounding environment. When the turtle is in this natural state, not tense and without stress, we can then transition it to a normal breeding environment.
Once the resting period is over, regardless of the water depth, for turtles, whether they are deep-water or shallow-water turtles, the tens of centimeters or even several tens of centimeters of water depth in our homes will be suitable as long as we provide good climbing objects such as basking platforms, stepping stones, or aquatic plants. The larger the water body, the more the turtle will like it, feel secure, and be less likely to experience stress.
Original article by KPTer, if reproduced, please cite the source: https://www.kaipet.com/en/care-newly-delivered-turtle-home-precautions-resting-methods
