General Care Discussion :: Turtles "dancing"?

[nocash27]

This may be a strange question, but it's about my turtles' behavior together.
I can't get a video because they stop whenever i get too close, so I'll explain the best I can.

A lot of the time, I can see my two RESes just drifting or floating around the tank, face to face, maybe a few millimeters apart. The move all over the tank without even flapping.

And today they were doing it, but one was standing on two feet at the bottom with its front hands up, and the other was "holding" hands with the one on the bottom, but had it's end floating up.

That's really the best I can describe. They weren't biting at each other or anything any of the times I've seen it.



Any thoughts?

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Well thats either an im the dominate turtle dance or the mating dance.

If your turtle are male and female its most likely a mating dancel but still could be one turtle trying to show dominace. Its nothing to worry about you will see this alot.

[BullDog]

Like Painteds said, it's either mating dance or establishing dominance. But it can be something to be concerned about. Either one can lead to aggression. If it's mating, the female may get fed up and give a good bite to the male. If it's dominance, the dominant one may start bullying the subordinate one, and bite, chase, or steal food from it.

Keep a close eye on them, and make sure you don't see any biting, and make sure both get the proper amount of food.

[nocash27]

I see. Well they are both only about 8 months old. That's too soon to be a mating dance right? And I feed them separately.

[BullDog]

You're right, 8 months is too young to mate, but sometimes youngsters "practise". That's great that you feed them separately.