Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:20 pm Re: Whether to adopt a Red Ear slider ??
I don't advise against it. However, you need to be aware of the potential problems and the commitment of time and energy to facilitate it. The greater the age/size differential between the turtles, or the older their age, the more difficult and less likely successful the cohabitation will result. For example, two hatchlings or relatively young and about the same sized turtles will generally accept each other fairly quickly. Two older and/or sexually mature turtles probably will not accept each other unless they are a male and female. Even then, the male may harass the female. In the wild, a female can just swim away when she's not interested in mating, but in the confines of even a relatively large tank, she may bite instead because she has nowhere to escape the unwanted attention.
My hatchlings, purchased separately from different stores, took about 4/5 days to accept each other. Because they were both very small there was never any aggressive behaviour and/or biting; they would just stay away from each other most of the time. So I felt very comfortable leaving them in their tank together without supervision. As each one grew accustomed to the other they started to interact with each other. Now they are best buddies and each seems to experience stress if they are separated. Depending to some extent upon their sexes, which can't be determined reliably yet, they may or may not remain "best buddies" as they mature. But for the next year or two they're fine together.
I've recently introduced my hatchlings to Alexandra, my year + old RES 'tween. This has required constant supervision while the hatchlings and Alexandra are together. The hatchlings were fascinated by Alexandra and wanted to swim around her and examine her constantly, while Alexandra apparently viewed them as unwanted intruders. At first, Alexandra was very aggressive, always displaying aggressive/territorial fluttering to both of the hatchings. She would do this almost nose to nose. Interestingly, the hatchlings seemed not to pay the slightest attention to this. They did not seem the least bit intimidated by it nor inclined to back away. I permitted Alexandra to do this, only as long as she did not attempt to bite.
Whenever Alexandra looked like she was going to bite, I would immediately push her away from the hatchling and tell her firmly: "NO MOUTH on the babies". Alexandra would look up at me and I would then tell her in a more soothing tone: "That's a good girl, be nice to the babies." The first few days I kept them all together in Alexandra's day tank for only about half an hour. I thought that was long enough to subject Alexandra to the intrusion in her territory.
Day by day, Alexandra showed less and less aggression and less inclination to try to bite. After about a week I started to increase their time together to first an hour, then two hours. Still under constant supervision. This has been ongoing for nearly two weeks now. Alexandra shows almost no aggression any more and almost never tries to bite. The past couple of days, the only time she tried to bite one of the hatchlings was when the hatchling climbed onto her back. She didn't like that and immediately displayed and nipped at a hind foot. For the first time, one of the hatchlings nipped Alexandra on the foot. The hatchling was swimming underneath Alexandra and examining her carefully and when she got to one of the hind feet decided to find out what it tastes like. I guess.
It has been a slow process involving constant supervision and correction to Alexandra, but it seems to be succeeding. All three of the turtles are now contently sharing the day tank with no incidents of aggression or biting. The initial fascination of the hatchlings for Alexandra, as well as Alexandra's territorial instinct seem to have subsided. I think all three have simple accepted each other as part of the environment and nothing to get excited about any more. One of the hatchlings likes to be around Alexandra, and as long as she doesn't try to climb on her back Alexandra seems to have accepted her attentions. All three are often virtually nose to nose with no one showing any aggression or inclination to bite anyone else.
They still sleep in separate night tanks and I still don't feel comfortable leaving them all together in the same day tank if I leave the apartment. But I now have no qualms about leaving them all together for several hours during the day and from time to time without supervision for 10 to 15 minutes. For most of the time the hatchlings ignore Alexandra and Alexandra ignores the hatchlings, otherwise they swim around, examine each other once in a while or play in the water stream coming out of the filter. Yesterday, all three mounted the basking platform simultaneously for the first time. That was a treat to watch as they moved around to position themselves. Again, no aggressive behaviour from Alexandra, although she had ample opportunity to bite both the hatchlings had she been so inclined.
