General Care Discussion :: Mating dance between 2 Females? Tank to small?

[pstoaling]

Hi there everyone

We have 2 RES but we are not sure of the sex, though we think they are both female judging by the descriptions on the main site. One is 1.5 inches, the other is 3 inches, we have had them for 8 months.

Recently the bigger RES has been doing what we think is the courtship dance to the smaller one, that is to say front feet stretched towards the face, and vibrating. Which the smaller one does back to the bigger one.

The question is, is it possible that the tank is too small, and it is a dominance/ aggression issue or is it a genuine courtship? We think they are not old enough to be sexually mature.

The tank dimensions are 61 x 31 x 26 cm, we realise that if this is not to small now, it will be soon. What size of tank can someone recommend?

Thanks in advance for all your help

Maria and Pieter

(Curtis and Aretha)

[scottpkura]

It's usually one showing dominance. Keep an eye on them. With that much difference in size agression may occur, and seperation may be needed.

Also your tank is too small. You need a minium of 30 Gallons for the larger one and probably another 20 for the smaller one. Add 'em up, you'll need 50 minimum, but the honest answer is get the biggest you can afford/have room for.

REs can get territorial when the confines get small, they compete for space, and if you feed them together one probably steals food which can lead to agressive behavior. Female RES have have pretty strong bites which can lead to all sorts of infections or even worse, limb loss or death.

[pstoaling]

Thanks for the advice scott, I guess it's time to get a new tank then.

Do you think that if we get them a big enough tank, they will be OK together? Or will the definitely have to be separated? I can provide pics for size comparison if you like?

[marisa]

It's possible more space will help things for a while, but I've always found that once a turtle starts picking on another, the behavior will inevitably continue until they're separated (the dominant one will start to seek out the other one to bother).

[theartbook35]

It's perfectly fine for turtles or any age to show dominance towards each other, as long as they don't fight after.

Your tank is huge, they can basically live in that tank for the rest of their natural existence. Getting a larger tank for a 3 inch and 1.5 inch turtle is a waste of money. There is 4 1/2 inches total for the turtles, and they only need ten gallons each inch (40 gallons total). The tank is quite a bit larger than a 40 gallon, which is usually between three and four feet long.

The fact that, the smaller one is showing dominance right back is a good sign. That's a very confident turtle. With such a size difference, you want the little one to be unwilling to put up with any crap.

I have two turtles living in a tank they just outgrew. (I am ordering new things for them tonight online, I need to wait for the money to clear in the bank). Once, they had a few fights for a couple of days, nothing extremely aggressive. Typhoon was being very territorial, since they had just gotten new stuff, and was bothering Hurricane. Hurricane decided she had enough, and turned around and bothered Typhoon right back. Since then, no issues. In fact, Typhoon, still being the dominant one of the tank, has calmed herself down quite a bit. They follow each other everywhere, sleep next to each other, bask together, play together, eat together, and hang out together (Typhoon will seriously hide under, or let Hurricane sit on her, too). They are so used to me, and getting new stuff now, that, it only takes them about a half hour, give or take, to calm down and check it out. I also removed the thing they had been fighting over, simply because I lost it. My turtles treat each other the way I treat them, so, I don't expect many problems.

[seanwb]

Your tank is huge, they can basically live in that tank for the rest of their natural existence. Getting a larger tank for a 3 inch and 1.5 inch turtle is a waste of money. There is 4 1/2 inches total for the turtles, and they only need ten gallons each inch (40 gallons total). The tank is quite a bit larger than a 40 gallon, which is usually between three and four feet long.

I think you have got your inches and centimeters confused.

Tank is roughly 24 inch x 12 inches x 11 inches

[Jbenjamin_kuN22]

24" aint that big.... thats only two rulers.
But Artbook's point was that its big enough for her current turtle's size which is 3" the biggest.

I made the mistake of starting small, then change to medium, and now a large tank, not including all the accessories like basking areas, filters... i spent so much money on upgrades, i coulda just started large

///////

so both males and females can do that dance thing, and its not only about mating? i thought mine were both males since they were doing that ritual to each other, i was like OH NO i have gay turtles...

actually i cant tell the sex of the smaller one, ive had it over a year its still smaller than my hand, no long claws and short tail, im guessing its a female.
but it seems more brave than my large female one, cuz it started doing the mating ritual dance thing FIRST..... hmmmm

i duno im just a confused RES owner

[marisa]

Sounds like they're testing each other. It oculd possibly turn more serious, but at this point who knows.

Males will flutter at females, males will flutter at males. Females will flutter at each other too.

That is not a very big tank...

[adam85491]

If your turtles wave their nails at each other, it really isn't a problem. Mine do that, and have lived together for as long as I've had them. It was worse when I had a really small tank, and a larger tank seems to have helped. They've never actually fought, though.

[seanwb]

That is not a very big tank...

Assuming it is 1/2 full, it has 7 gallons of water. Way way way too small!

But Artbook's point was that its big enough for her current turtle's size which is 3" the biggest.

The Artbook appeared to have got her inches and centimeters confused when calculating tank size. I an sure she will agree that the tank is way too small for the turtles too small.

I think the Americans here ought to have pity on us poor Brits as we have to content with inches and centimetres and gallons and litres in everyday life.
We measure cars fuel consumption in miles per gallon and then buy petrol (gas) in litres. Our milk and beer (in a bar) comes in pints, but coke and bottles of beer in shops is in litres. Just to confuse matter further, our gallons are a different size to yours.

[dtarver]

Hello Marisa

I have two turtles. One grew much larger and appears female. The smaller one appears male. I use to keep them together untill I witnessed the bigger one bite the smaller one. I have also seen photos of what can happen to a small turtle by a bigger aggressive one. ...it is not pretty and very sad.

I separated mine and put their tanks next to each other. The bigger one got a 40 gallon long tank, and the smaller one a 12 gallon tank. The smaller one began to grow. He is now 2" and his sister is 7". I just put her in a 120 gallon long tank. I plan to move him to the 40 gallon tank.

I recommend separating them. It is better.

Regards,
Dora