RES Not eating. plz help

Question
I just bought a female red eared slider turtle from petco today, but its not eating. i bought it a heat lamp with a 75w bulb since its getting to be winter, i have a pile of small rocks for it to climb up onto and bask in the light. i dont have a water heater yet but i plan to get one tomorrow, along with all of the other nessecities. it doesnt stay under the heater lamp very long, is it bad for her to stay under water for hours at a time and then only bask for 10-15 minutes. im worried about it but ive heard its normal if the turtle changes its environment that it wont eat for a while.. the water temp isnt very cold, about 78F, thanks for the help

Answer
Andrew,

I don't think you need a water heater for a RES.  78 degrees is pretty warm for a pond turtle.  In the wild ponds never get that warm.  Even if the water in his tank feels cold to you (your body is 98, after all) it is room temperature (about 71) and that is just fine for a turtle.

It is normal for water turtles to stay in the water for hours and bask for only a short amount of time.  Especially when they are kept indoors, because, like I said, the water is already warm by turtle standards.  They bask more in the wild because the water is so much colder!

It is also normal that your turtle isn't eating yet.  You are correct that it won't eat for awhile.  Relax, it sounds like you are providing him everything he needs.  Just give him time to get used to him environment.  Try not to hover around his tank too much, give him a little privacy.

Give him a week, and if he isn't eating by then please feel free to write me again.

-Amanda