General Care Discussion :: More turtle behavior questions

[kikicool]

First, I must say I am sooo happy. I rcently got a second turt, and wasn't sure if they'd get along. Not only do they get along (I think.. this what my question will be about) but Lily is picking up some good habits from him!! This AM I walked in and she had been BASKING!! She has not done this in the three months I've had her. Whoo hoo!!

My questions involve turtle behavior. I've been looking for signs of aggression etc but realized... I don't know what I'm looking for. These aren't dogs, so it just isn't as obvious to me

1. Lily sleeps on the floor of the tank a lot. Sometimes, Herman is there right on top of her. She doesn't seem to mind, and he's not messing with her. Just laying on top of her. Or using her shell to lean his foot on while he peeks out of the water. In dog world, this behavior would be an attempt to assert dominance. Turts are not dogs. I'm out of my league! Is this behavior okay?

2. I've heard of repeative anxious motions. Since I put the new filter in yesterday, Herman has been moving in patterns. Not constantly, just often. He swims under it, lets it push him to the bottom, and then circles around and does it again. (It's a cascading one) Looks like playing to me!! But, as a totally nervous ninny, I have to ask: is it? He sometimes just hangs out in front of it, with his front legs on the driftwood, and seems to be getting a shell massage from the stream. Could this be so?

I am so in love with everyone in this dang tank. We hve the turts, and we had bought some rosies (as that is what Herman apparently ate exclusively!! at the store). No one ate them. So my fiance went out and bought MORE FISH!! He's nuts. He thinks I spend too much time and money and energy on the turts--but it was him who bought the second, and he who bought these fish. Of course, he undertands that tomorrow? They could be gone. So now we have some rosies, neon tetras, two guaramis, and a plecko. And I an't tell you how often I come home to find the fiance sitting here staring at the tank and smiling. Of course, I'm even worse.

Um, okay that's enough now.

[industrial_girl_2000]

1.) This is totally ok.

2.) He is just playing with the "current."

3.) You can never spend too much time with the turts!

Aggression in the turtle world is shown by snapping at another turtle, sometimes a chase is involved too. It's kinda like if someone got in your face and you shove them away and yell at them. Turtles don't shove or yell, they just snap then *actively* chase another turtle away from them.

If you ever have a problem with this, you WILL know it because when they fight, it is very loud! They will chase and bang against the tank a lot in the skirmish. And if they start doing this a lot, you can either a.) buy a bigger tank or b.) separate them into their own tanks. With turtles, it is usually just a matter of them each having their own space.

[kikicool]

Thank you! I think they get along GREAT then. Lots of jazz fingers and snuggling, looks like.

Ever since I Put the filter in... they've taken to staring at me. It's a bit unnerving!

[Muirner]

1) I have always called this "stacking" and i even have some pictures of it. Very cute i must say.

2) Mine will play in the XP3 spray bar often, it's very cute of them. They will get blown down into the deeper water, swim up and do it again, and again lol. They are so fun.

3) I look at my turts all the time.

[Hoooneylynn]

Have they both been eating good? If there is aggression, make sure they are both eating good, because one turt usually gets bullied.. if that happens, feed them seperately in a container of water or something.

[steve]

RES do like to bask together. How big are they and what is their sex?

[scripta_elegans]

I love the "riding the current" behavior! It is so funny! I thought mine were just confused at first, but after they kept doing it for an hour at a time I realized it might just be intentional.

[flutterby]

Thank you! I think they get along GREAT then. Lots of jazz fingers and snuggling, looks like.

"Jazz fingers" isn't necessarily a good thing, it can be a sign of being territorial or aggressive.

[kikicool]

The male is slightly larger than the female, about 4 inches to 3 inches. They eat together just fine! Don't mind where the other one is or what it's doing at all. I haven't seen them bask together, just sleep together under water. Lily is a little shy... the basking WITH the other turtle could take quite a bit of work!

I thought the jazz fingers thing could be friendly, too? Because otherwise, I don't see them chasing or snapping or anything!

[Hoooneylynn]

That could also be their mating dance. Its courtship. The male usually brushes the females face with his claws, flirting with her... But its also very possible it is territorial or aggression. Its better to assume its aggression to avoid injuries.. Its really hard to tell which one it is. Basking with the other turtle should come natural..but it doesnt always happen. Turtles bask together often in the wild. Just keep an eye out for injuries.. I have read that if one turt is being bullied, it will stop eating and be withdrawn...some people have said that their turt will only bask all day and is afraid to go in the water. And aggression can happen anytime.. so just always keep an eye on them.

-What kind of setup do you have? How many gallons? How big are they? Are you sure one is female and one is male?

[Muirner]

Jessica, let me give you my situation.. I havent seen bulling in my turtles, i've only seen them happy togehter, stacking and the like. Only the other day during feeding, ashley got happy, splashing around and such, i think may have scared Mary Kate. I separately feed them both, Mary Kate on the dock (in the submirged part), and ashley in the water, but Mary Kate seems reluctant to just "hang out" in the water... I havent seen one or the other snip at the other or anything remotly mean, heck they even bask together. Sometimes they stack, sometimes they sit next to eachother.

[Hoooneylynn]

Just watch for aggression I guess... If you see them be aggressive, you might have to seperate them, or get a bigger tank... even a bigger tank might not solve the problem.. Good thing you feed Mary Kate and Ashley seperate.