Urgent Care :: ?? Fighting

[laturcotte]

A little history, Moose and Gammera were housed together in a large Jucuzzi in my bathroom for 1 month. The got along fine together no fighting no injuries. Ate together etc. The large outdoor pond we are building ran into a snag so I ended up putting them into the small pond, 750 gallon. They got along fine, Gammera was out on land one day digging holes (she laid 16 eggs during the month, none hatched and continues to lay one a week) and when she finished she entered the pond and began chasing Moose all over. She didn't have her mouth open just was chasing her. Well I was just out on the porch, dropped some spinich into the pond and noticed Gammera chasing Moose again this time mouth wide open. Moose was running for her life. She will find a place to rest and keeps watch, Gammera will find her and the chase begins. They bask on the rocks together and there doesn't seem to be a problem.

Question, the liner just came in so the large pond is still under construction. Should I separate them? I would put one back into my jacuzzi but come Monday I am turtle sitting for 2 weeks and that one has to go into the jacuzzi, it was suppose to go into the small pond but obviously that can't happen now.

I can't imagine they are playing, they are both females and I don't get it, they did get along. While up on the porch I checked for feet, toes and tails they all seem to the intack.

[RunninWideOpen]

Hm, sounds odd. they should have tons of space in a 750 gallon! i tried everything i could think of and i finally had to seperate 2 of mine that weren't getting along. not sure i'm of much help, but good luck!

there's no way of putting a divider in the small pond to keep them seperated?

[SpotsMama]

I'd separate them right away. The one turtle chasing the other with her mouth open is what they do when they are chasing minnows - and they don't just play with the minnows when they catch them. That's a shame - I would have thought 750 gallons would be space enough but apparently not.

(edit)

That idea of putting a divider in the pond sounds good. I remember someone on here did it and made it look attractive and it wound up making the pond even prettier than before.

[laturcotte]

I just might try it, sounds like a good idea to me. My husband is dropping the liner in the new pond which is going to easily be 1,000 gallon, they will definately be separated then. Thanks for you help.

[marisa]

What's in the pond with them? Do they have places to hide/go to when they want privacy? Are there any objects or plants in the pond that would break up their sight lines so they don't see each other all the time?

[laturcotte]

Funny you should ask about hiding. We just had to clean the hyacinth and lettuce out for some reason we got a bad batch and they died. We are in the process of purchasing more. They will bask together but can't tolerate each other in the pond, I will have my husband pick some up in the morning. They do have places on top of the rocks and under and now that I think of it Moose was on top of one of the rocks (still in the water) when I came home must have been hiding. I am still going to separate them though, I have a feeling the plants will just hide the fact Moose is being chased.

Marisa I think you save Moose from a lot of swimming, thanks everyone.

[marisa]

I would think that the plants would be a distraction for Gammera and make it harder to see Moose. How many do you have in the pond usually?

[laturcotte]

The top of the pond is nearly covered with lily, water lettuce, hyacinth but a bunch died and had to be removed thats when we discovered moose trying to escape. Today my husband spotted Gammera chasing her again this time mouth open and at high speed. My husband caught Moose as she was making her third time around the pond and she is safely in my jacuzzi. The poor thing just laid out on the rock for about 30 minutes then just fell into the water. I checked on her she is swimming around, she has all her toes and tail. She has lost a lot of weight, poor thing. The very large pond will be opening in a week and Moose can have the whole thing to herself. I will try again placing Gammera in the pond after Moose and see whose territory it becomes. The problem is I want them to share because they need to be housed in the pond during the winter, together. For now i will keep them apart. Thursday I pick up a painter turtle, Yertle I will be turtle sitting for 2 weeks and she will have to be housed in the guest bath tub. Good thing I still have one more bathroom. I just hope we don't have company!! hehehe

[grey goose]

I've seen wild males and maybe females get driven out of very large ponds and bogs by dominant males (or maybe females?). Some are weak, dehydrated, and pretty beat up. I'll move them to another one of my "spots" and hope for the best. But it's mostly mature males, especially as the season goes on.....Maybe those two just can't get along?

[steve]

Is it possible to be able to divide the pond up? Something like egg crate can be used to fence some of the area off.