General Care Discussion :: Turtle vs. Rock

[BullDog]

The last couple days, I've noticed Ralph doing something strange. In his tank, there's some river rocks (about a dozen), they've been in there at least 2 months, and there is one black one about the size of my fist. Ralph is about 7 inches, so he's about twice as big as this rock. Usually, he just pushes around the rocks, or "digs" in them. But recently, the one black rock went under his "cave" area.
For the last two days, he's been sitting on the bottom, staring at it, sometimes digging at it so it spins around, and I think he even tried to bite it. Should I take out the rock so he doesn't end up hurting himself? Or should I just move it so it's not under his hiding place? Or should I just leave it in because he seems to be entertained by it?
There's other rocks the same size of different colours, but he's never bothered them.
Also, since he's been so interested in this rock, I haven't seen him basking (water and basking temp are the same as always).

[jenaero]

Take it out and see if he starts basking again...that'd be interesting. Sounds like he's either entertained by it, or doesn't want it in there. Hard to tell.

[BullDog]

Ok, I took it out, and since when I'm in the room the only thing he does is begs, I left the room, then poked my head back in. He was searching frantically under the cave for the rock, swimming back and forth. I'll wait a while and see if he starts basking again. As long as he's basking, I might put the rock back in a few days.

Maybe he thought the rock was a turtle (for some strange reason, all of a sudden after a couple months)? It is an odd shape... It's got sort of a right-angle in it... Or, maybe Ralph is just insane o.o

[SpotsMama]

My turtle Spot is convinced a river rock in the corner of his tank is a girl turtle. He swims backwards in front of it ALL the time he's in the tank (most of the time he's outside in a pond) fluttering his long front claws at "her". He's in love!

[BullDog]

Good to hear it's not just my turtle who's in love with a rock...

Now that I've taken the big black rock out of there, he's singled out a smaller, long/thin black rock. He's got it in one corner, with no other rocks around it... He was fluttering his paws at it too... So I took THAT rock out He'll probably find another to "court", if that's what he's doing... That, or he really hates black rocks o.o

[BullDog]

Yup... Now he's found the next biggest black rock and is currently courting that -.-' Do you think he'll give up once he realizes it's an inanimate object?

[sonyj]

I think it just gives him something to do... sit back and enjoy the show.

[BullDog]

Finally! After a week I think he's given up courting the rock, and I caught him basking again!

[marisa]

Bulldog, your turtle does the same thing has my Tilly. He has a few rock "friends," but one little rock that he will spend time with each day, fluttering at it, spinning it around (he's become quite good at it) and nipping at it. He will pick this rock out even if the rocks are rearranged. He doesn't appear mind that the rock doesn't respond to his attention (maybe the spinning is enough for him). It doesn't interfere with his basking and I think it's pretty neat he has something so simple to keep him occupied for a while each day. I wouldn't take the rocks out. As you have seen, they can become fixated on certain objects. I don't think he'll outgrow this, but as you can see, the objects of their fascination can change. I think he'll bask when he's good and ready to.

[BullDog]

It's good to hear mine isn't the only insane turtle out there ^^;
I put the rocks back in