General Care Discussion :: Curved tail

[Billy Black]

I've noticed that my RES curves his tail over to the side very often. It isn't like that all the time, but I was wondering if there was a reason why he does it. Maybe he does it when he's threatened? I dunno.

[marisa]

Do you mean he pulls his tail over to one side and tucks it under his shell? If so, I do think they can do that when they're distressed or something's not quite right. If there are multiple turtles in a tank and one of them starts swimming with the tail tucked in a lot, I would think of the turtle being harrassed or bullied as a possibility.

[Bumby's Mom]

Nyx does this when she is sleeping or if I touch her tail. The babies are JUST learning to tuck their tails so they pretty much never do it. The one baby usually tucks the tail if I take her out of the tank but after a few seconds she realizes she is fine and then the tail comes back out and she is looking around.

[Sgt. Pepper]

My turtle does that when he's hiding and when I first pick him up. They just try to suck everything they can into their shell I think.

[emma]

Yes, my turtle does this to when he is scared. They do mostly do this when they feel threatened or are trying to hide.

[mikee]

Billy B – If he is doing it a lot, that is a self defense signal. I suggest that you put him in a separate tank with the same temperature water and watch him. If his behavior changes that means one or more turtles are bothering him. Give it day or two.

[Billy Black]

I only have one turtle, and there aren't even any fish in the tank right now.

He doesn't seem to be doing it much anymore. Hopefully he's gotten over whatever was bothering him.

[grey goose]

I've noticed that B.D. (male) would do this much more than Beaker or Gomie (females). Maybe it's a guy thing?

[SpotsMama]

My turtle tucks his tail sometimes when he's swimming around fast in his tank. I think grey goose may be right - it's a guy thing.

[untsmurf]

My guy does it all the time.