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For the last two weeks Turtley has been obsessed with one particular river rock in his tank. He swims around and around it, looking at it closely, he bites it, he slaps it and spins it, and then he flutters at it. I got a couple pics of it:


I don't know what it is about this rock that made him single it out, there are lots of rocks on his tank, and even several that are nearly identical to it, but even if i move it across the tank and "hide" it with the other rocks he finds it and continues harassing it. I'm not worried about it or anything, mostly i just think it's pretty funny. I thought maybe he was bored or wanted something to beat up on so i got him a few feeder fish, and he chased them for about 5 minutes and then went right back to his rock so i guess that wan't it. I was wondering whether you guys thought it was a territoial thing, trying to dominate it or something, or if maybe he's in love with it and wants it to be his girlfriend. Also i would enjoy hearing about other turtles doing similar things so i don't feel like Turtley's a wierdo!

I think he loves it.

Ha ha! Yea that's what males do when they're trying to court a female. I think your turtle has poor eyesight! lol!

isn't that hilarious? Spot does it too. Other turtles do it too. The funny thing is, though, Spot always picks a black rock with stripes, then he'll obsess over it for months. I thought he picked those particular rocks because they look like him - black with yellow stripes. But your turtle has picked a solid orange rock!! So there goes my theory. Unless maybe your turtle's mom was a solid orange turtle.

When Spot was little, he had a little green plaster alligator in his tank that he absolutely adored. He'd flutter at it for hours. We had to take it away, though, because he got his head stuck in it one day and nearly drowned. Poor Spot.

Awww poor Spot! He doesn't have much luck with the "ladies" either does he? I was thinking about taking Turtley's rock out to see if he would find a new rock to flutter at, but now i think i would feel too bad for taking away his "girlfriend"!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

he looks so happy!
find the identicle stone and swap it with the flutterd-up one, see if he finds out that the swapped stone isnt realy his "girl-friend".lol.

Haha i tried that, he wasn't fooled for a second! He just swam around and looked untill he found the "right" one. It's very special, apparently... For the first week he was doing this he was so distracted by it that he was barely eating, and i was starting to get worried, but now whenever he notices i'm nearby he takes a break from his routine to beg for food.

lol!
and who said turtles arent smart? lol.
you sure do have one smart turtle!

Maybe hes biting it because he does it want it in his terrtiory.And feels like he needs more room

My RES does exactly the same thing. He's attracted to only certain rocks, and will spend a good deal of time everyday fluttering at them, spinning them around and nipping at them. If the rocks are rearranged, he finds them and starts the whole thing all over again. I'm glad it gives him something to do that he seems to like.

It doesn't matter if it's love or hate, because your turtle is being entertained cheaply and without injury to himself or others. I love it! I wish mine would spend some time fluttering rocks instead of disassembling thier tank!

Ralph's the same as Spot. He has a large black river rocks with carmel stripes.

Don't worry about him not eating too much. Ralph was on a hunger/basking strike for a few days hoping it would catch the attention of "her", but he finally fell back into his routine, and now he flirts with it whenever he's not eating or basking (like, 8 hours a day -.-')

i think hes in luuuuuv...

BullDog wrote:Ralph was on a hunger/basking strike for a few days hoping it would catch the attention of "her", but he finally fell back into his routine, and now he flirts with it whenever he's not eating or basking (like, 8 hours a day -.-')

Haha i love that, trying to impress the rock! Yeah he's just doing it in his spare time now so i'm cool with it, and i am glad that he's focusing his energy on the rock rather than on more destructive pastimes!

tas funny my turt isnt that entertaining he just swims around or basks or if i walk by or towards him he stares at for like a minute and then begs lol