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Hello,

This is my first posting -- it's too bad it's with such sad news. I got my first turtles (RES) in October for my 28th birthday. I named them Betty and Veronica (after the Archie comic characters) because one turtle seemed to be a bully (that one was Veronica). But I always had a soft spot for Betty (you know, the underdog..).

Anyway, on Wednesday I got home and didn't look in the tank right away like I usually do. I only went over to say hi around 9pm. I only saw Veronica. Where's Betty? Unfortunately, Betty had gotten stuck between the rocks (that are built up to make their basking area) and the glass of the aquarium. She couldn't get any air and by the time I found her it was too late . I was quite sad and shaken -- I didn't know I had grown so attached.

But the point of my post (other than the fact that misery loves company) is that I was wondering if it's okay to get a new turtle (and friend for Veronica). Her shell is about the size of my palm right now (she was a hog on the food!) and I'm not sure what will happen if I get a new baby RES. I've never noticed bigger turtles at the pet stores. Could they get aggressive? Could Veronica end up eating the new turtle? (like other animals do?)

She just looks so lonely in the tank alone...

Thank you in advance,

Kasia
Montreal, Quebec

It's not a good idea to put a baby res in with a larger one. You have to think of what might happen if Veronica didn't like this new turtle, because if she didn't you would have to get another set up for the new turtle so that Veronica wouldn't bully it or hurt it. You'll just have to think about what you are willing to spend on a new turtle especially if you have to have two tanks. Plus it is always a good idea if you get a new turtle to put it in a seperate tank for a while to see if it is sick or not before you put the turtle in with your old turtle.

First off, sorry to hear about your loss.. I had been turtlesitting one of my son's friends turtles a few summers ago and had the same thing happen .

My suggestion on getting another turtle is.. don't. Turtles aren't social creatures and don't need other turtles to be happy and healthy. That's something we project on to them. You also need to consider, as daredvilgirl said, the cost of keeping 2 turtles should they not get along and housing them both together. Eventually keeping 2 turtles you'll need a minium tank size of 150 or more gallons when they are adults. So, if you're doing it because you think your turtle will get lonely, don't worry it won't

You also have to consider the other things daredevilgirl said, the possibilty of aggression and disease and the need for 2 separate setups. The new one should be quarintined for 90 days to make sure it has no diseases and then you have the size issue also. They really should be of similar size/age when you house them together.

Btw, Welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear about your loss. And welcome to the forum.

I agree with what both daredevilgirl and Carol said above.

And just wanted to add that making a basking area with rocks for turtles to bask on isn't the best basking area to have. One, for obvious reasons, what happened to Betty because the rocks can become unstable and injure them or they get trapped in them.

Two, Raising the water level as high as it needs when doing this can be difficult. Getting a basking dock that floats with the water level is better so water level can be raised pretty high for them to have plenty of swimming room that they need without having to build up high with rocks.

Veronica will be fine without a friend and probably better off in the long run. Should you decide to get another one here's a few things to remember:

1) Never put turtles that are very different in size together. The larger one can injure or even kill the smaller one.

2) Always quarantine a new turtle for 90 days in another habitat to prevent spread of disease.

3) If you eventually do have more than one turtle together, there is a chance that later they may both need their own complete set-ups due to aggression or the fact that they are incompatible together. Even if they get along at first, it can change as they get older.

Let us know how things are going with Veronica and post pics if you have any.

I find that having one turtle is a lot of work, when you want them to be well taken care of. Having 2 will really be work because of the cleaning. I think Veronica will be just fine on her own, she has you!
I'm very sorry about Betty, that must have been so distressing.

Sorry to hear about Betty. I'm with everyone on Veronica being fine by herself.

(My turtle's name is Veronica. )

Welcome. Sorry to hear about what happened.

I'd just concentrate on giving Veronica the best care possible.

Get another one around the same size, and dont forget to quarentine too. Turtles shouldn't be alone unless the turtle has issues against another. they are individual as any animal, some like company some don't.
My stand on keeping more than one:
People say they dont need social interaction, I believe they do. It's not something we project onto a turtle, they are more social than we realise...they're the most social of reptiles. My ornate wood male, Don was inactive when I first got him. It took 6 months to find a female but when Jessie came home Don was alot more interested in things, and very active in more ways than one They're still very active turtles, and both are in better shape as well.

Thank you so much for all your responses, sympathies and welcomes.

I hadn't realized that 2 turtles could take up 150 gallon tank as adults. That really made me think. I think Veronica is just fine alone -- she has fun digging up all the plastic plants until they are all floating on top of the water! I've even caught her doing back dives from the rocks!

I will look for a floating dock instead of using the rocks. I'm very nervous about the same thing happening, even if Veronica is bigger.

Thanks so much,

Kasia

Go to a smaller pet stores,they have huge RES's.