Hi! Introduce yourselves here. :: Hi my name is Josh and I have 4 small turtle's and....

[ScrewstonePlaya]

My older turtle does something really strange to the other one's. The thing he does is he gets really close to the other turtles face and then he uses his front legs to cover up his eyes and then he puts his legs back down and repeats the same process over and over as if he is playing pick a boo with his buddie's. It's really cool and i'll try and get some picture's of him doing it or maybe a video. But anyway I am new and I am happy to be here since Red Ear Slider's are so awesome!!!

[missibsu]

Welcome!

Be sure to read through the basic care information. Do you have all four turtles in the same tank? How big is it, and how big are your turtles. The movements you are seeing could be a mating dance or a sign of aggression if the habitat is too small.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

Welcome!

Be sure to read through the basic care information. Do you have all four turtles in the same tank? How big is it, and how big are your turtles. The movements you are seeing could be a mating dance or a sign of aggression if the habitat is too small.

Well I have a 55 gallon tank and I have 4 turtles in the same tank and the largest one is 2 and a half centimeters and the second oldest is 2 centimeters and the other two are 1 5th of an inch. But I don't think that it's a mating dance or sign of aggression because the tank is big enough for them or maybe it's because they have a dock that they all use and they are always in a group because of it. So that they can get some warm lighting of course.

[sneakyburrito]

wow, i didnt know hatchlings came to be that small. but yes, Missibu is right, although it really cant be the mating dance because of the age and size of your turtle, it could be a sign of aggression. here i have a video of my turtles doing such "Peek-a-Booing"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvEjNkWo9Ms

[sneakyburrito]

and if your turtles are really thats small to the point where they are centimeters and barely an inch in size, you gotta watch your water/basking temperatures very closely. Hatchlings are very delicate, and any sudden drop in temperature could make your turtle(s) sick.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

The largest one is 3 inches and the second largest is 2 and a half the two small one's are 2 inchs. But anyway I have to go to work so i'll be back later for a responce. Sorry for the mistake I made.

[missibsu]

At those sizes, a hundred gallon tank minimum would be recommended. Generally a good rate of measure is 10 gallons per inch of shell length. Aggression can happen in turtles that have enought space as well as due to overcrowding. I have two turts and I keep a close eye on them because I figure one day that they are going to have to be separated.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

At those sizes, a hundred gallon tank minimum would be recommended. Generally a good rate of measure is 10 gallons per inch of shell length. Aggression can happen in turtles that have enought space as well as due to overcrowding. I have two turts and I keep a close eye on them because I figure one day that they are going to have to be separated.

Ok thanks for the advice. I might just get another tank so that they can be apart and not in one group. But anyway the last thing I want to do is get a 100 gallon tank because that would be a hard tank to clean, I mean my 55 gallon tank is hard enough. Thanks...

[flutterby]

You're going to have to get a tank that size eventually, even if all of your turtles are male they need at LEAST 90 gallons of water (someone correct me if i'm wrong). The best thing I can advise you on is getting a stock tank for them. They're not nearly as hard to clean as the glass aquariums.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

I want to know what is the big deal anyway? I mean who cares if they are getting mad at eachother, it's not as if they are going to get hurt from getting an ugly look from one of thier tank mate's. They should learn that they are a family and they should start acting like it.

[missibsu]

The big deal is that they could get hurt. It's when it moves beyond dirty looks that it becomes a problem, and your job is to not let it get that far. When it gets that far, your turtles could lose limbs, tails, or have serious wounds. When you get that, you have a high risk of infection. After that, you have the vet visit, and then the vet bill.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

[quote="missibsu"]The big deal is that they could get hurt. It's when it moves beyond dirty looks that it becomes a problem, and your job is to not let it get that far. When it gets that far, your turtles could lose limbs, tails, or have serious wounds. When you get that, you have a high risk of infection. After that, you have the vet visit, and then the vet bill.[/quot

Ok thanks... I really do appreciate it and I will have something done about this, I am thinking about releasing my largest one in the wild so that they can have more room and because the big one is always starting it.

[SpotsMama]

Hi Playa, sounds like you've got an abundance - or over abundance - of turtles.

Where releasing your problem child into the wild is concerned, I'm afraid that's a big no-no. Turtles that have been pets are dependent on people for food and protection and can't fend for themselves in the wild. Also, your turtles will catch diseases from wild turtles that will kill them, and it's also true that your turtles probably are carrying germs that will kill the wild turtles. You see the problem.

Finally, there's no way your little one could survive in the wild in Oregon if released at this time of the year.

Why don't you see if someone in your area who knows about turtles can adopt him/her? Check with your vet about how to find someone.

[ScrewstonePlaya]

Oh ok thanks for telling me that because I would have released him. So I am just going to find someone to adopt him to get rid of the problem.



Oh and I am originaly from Houston Tx

[missibsu]

You can try placing ads in your local paper or on craigslist.com. This will allow you to screen prospective parents for your turtle. You can also pass on the new information that you have learned, that way someone else doesn't end up in the same boat you did. It's tough to decide to give up a pet, but if you know you can't give it the proper care, then you are doing a good thing for your turtle!