Can you explain what sucking in and splooting is? how long have you had him? I would let him acclimate to the tank and surroundings before you start handling him and I would only handle him in the tank --- the kids are probably scaring him if they are loud etc.... he needs to time to adjust to his surroundings and then you should only be handling him for now --- little ones have a tendency to jump and you dont want that often times it ends in disaster ---- make sure your lighting is up to par NO coils for a UVB and basking temps 105-110 taken w/ a digital probe thermometer--- NO stick ons these two things I just mentioned are the TWO MOST important things in the tank --