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I apologise, this isn't exactly and urgent CARE question but it is an urgent matter.

For several months my 2 male RES have been fighting.
(I feel that I should add that I rescued them initially and it wasn't my choice to have 2). Anyway, I've tried moving them to a bigger tank, Feeding them seperately and seperating them when they start pestering each other but nothing had worked, and the signs of aggression show no signs of ceasing. To make matters worse one of them has recently become withdrawn and lost interest in his food likely due to stress?
(he does still eat bits of tuna when I offer it as a last resort).

Today I got GREAT news . I've located a reptile zoo that will take him (with a $ donation for his upkeep). I'm very happy and very relieved but my question is which one do I give up?

The more aggressive one who is healthy and seemingly happy, or the stressed, withdrawn one?
What are the chances of the stressed one getting better after he has the tank all to himself?

Thanks in advance for your help
M

if you can't choose, maybe you should consider getting 2 setups.

I'm with ellman on this.. I'd try 2 setups.. but if you are really set on giving one up. I'd keep the shy one. I'm assuming that wherever he's going would have other turtles and he may not adapt well to the new surrounds and turtles considering he's already stressed. I had one that was very shy and ended up giving it to my daughter and he was a totally different turtle for her. He had been in with 2 others.. 1 male and 1 female.

Good Luck, I know it's not an easy decision to make

I totally agree with Carol about keeping the shy one.

How big are they and how big is your tank? There are ways to divide a tank instead of resorting to two setups provided the tank is large enough.

If you absolutely have to give one up, I'd keep the shy one as well. It sounds like s/he's been stressed enough, and adding yet another environment for him to cope with wouldn't, in my opinion, be a good thing to do. The one that's stronger/more outgoing sounds like he's have the better chance in a new home.

steve wrote:How big are they and how big is your tank? There are ways to divide a tank instead of resorting to two setups provided the tank is large enough.

Thanks very much everyone for your quick replies.

I agree with the comments and I've decided to keep the shy/stressed one and try and nurse him back and hopefully get him eating again.

To answer your question Steve, my tank is a 50 gallon and the RES`are each approx. 3.5 inches or so. I'd like to get 2 set-ups but I really can't afford the cost or the space right now.

I think this will be best for both of them.

M

Yeah, while having two set-ups would be the best option in a perfect world, that kind of expense isn't just possible for everyone. I love how people say "get two set ups" like that isn't gonna cost MUCH more money than budgeted plus take up twice as much space. One turtle is going to a happy place with new friends and it sounds like he will be cared for. Keep the shy one and see how he does. And in the unlikely even that it isn't just stress or something and he turns out to be sick and doesn't make it I'm sure you'd be able to adopt the other one again, right? (Sorry for that gloomy thought, but my last guinea pig died yesterday at the grand old age of 6 and 1/2 so I'm a little sad.)

This is the very reason that when new turtle owners ask if they should get 2 turtles we recommend that they only get one because of the cost of a possiblel full 2nd setup.

Good luck... I do think a larger tank divided would still be my choice and not as bad as 2 setups... but its a tough choice

cam722 wrote:This is the very reason that when new turtle owners ask if they should get 2 turtles we recommend that they only get one because of the cost of a possiblel full 2nd setup.

I couldn't agree more
sadly I didn't have the choice when I rescued them both. I was just keeping my fingers crossed that they'd eventually get along.

On a positive note, I read through the posts on eating problems and based on some of your suggestions I removed the aggressive one for a few hours and fed 'Sam' inside the tank (freeze dried shrimp) and he finally ate!
I bought some tuna today and I plan to soak a few pellets in it and try to slowy wean him back onto food (once he's got the tank to himself).

steve wrote:Good luck... I do think a larger tank divided would still be my choice and not as bad as 2 setups... but its a tough choice

Thanks Steve, and everyone else for your input.