General Care Discussion :: Success Rate Keeping Male / Female Together?

[Breigh]

Since all hints are leaning towards my YBS (Frick!) being a female, and my RES is starting to look more male-ish... I'm wondering about what is in my future as far as keeping them together.

I bought them in August of this year as hatchlings and they've been together since the start with no signs of aggression (other than slight feeding aggression before I caught on and started feeding them seperately).

I know once they reach sexual maturity that the male may harass the female or the situation may change as far as how they get along in the same tank.

I'm curious to hear other people's experiences with keeping a male and female together in the same tank once they reach maturity. Not as much predictions as I know all anyone can say is 'it's possible you'll have to seperate them'... as I'm aware of that.

I'm interested to hear if anyone has successfully kept a male and female together in the same tank without problems.

Thanks!!

[industrial_girl_2000]

Funny that you just asked that! Janaero & I were talking with another person on the board about exactly that. Check out the following thread:

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7538

[Breigh]

Yeah I just finished reading that thread, was very interesting!

Were your male/female always together or did you put them together later?

I will (of course) do whatever is needed for them, whether it's seperate tanks or one nice big one. I'm just wondering if all of these situations have ended in seperation or if anyone has actually managed to keep a male and female together without issues.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I got Sheba when she was already 6" long & bought the male shortly thereafter (he was already 4"). At first, they seemed to get along fine, even stacking on the basking dock! But it wasn't long before the male (Nelson) started fluttering his nails at Sheba and that's when all the ruckus started. It got so loud & disruptive that I had to separate them by taking one turtle out to walk around the living room during the day for about 7 hours, then switch. I switched them in/out of the tank for several years. At night, they would sleep in the same tank & I would immediately get up in the AM & take one out to walk around. Sometimes I couldn't catch them in time (see each other when the sun came up), and they would immediately fight. It was terrible & there were injuries. I eventually had to give Nelson away to my friend.

[Kallistos]

From what I've seen over the posts is that whenever an existing turtle has a new turtle added, there's nothing but problems. The "old" turtle has become accustomed to the fact that the tank is THEIR territory. So, when another is added, the "old" turtle tries to defend his or her "territory." Fior the past couple years I've kept my 2 males together problem free. The problem w/ male and female situations is the whole male wanting to mate and female being un-receptive.

[steve]

So far my male and female do well together except he gets in her face a lot to flutter. No aggression from my male... he's fairly calm and passive. She is not aggressive either, though she is a huge beggar so I need to be careful during feeding. They've been together since they were hatchlings but have had to be separated during various health situations.

She does take an occasional bite at his foot to see if its edible. He follows her everywhere... she otherwise ignores his existence.

[bradwc2002]

ive had 2 females and 2 males living together for 2 years and there fine together, i have a beach set up for them and they have layed eggs and never fight

[Breigh]

Yeah mine have been together since they were hatchlings as well. Hopefully that might make a slight difference and they'll continue to get along in the future.

I would assume the size of the tank counts as well? As in the more space they have to get away from each other the better they get along?

At the moment they are each 3 inches and are in a 180L tank (55G) but I plan to upgrade within the next 6 months.

Would a tank of 200x50x50 (cm) be big enough for them both? That's about 500L-ish and approx 129-ish gallons. In a 2 bedroom flat that's about the biggest I'd be able to pull off.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Size of the tank would definitely help!

[Turtle addict]

I keep males and females together in the pond with no issues. One male had to come out as he would bite and harass the females so much it was better to remove him. But now with 3 males, and 5 females we are doing fine. As long as there is enough room to get away from each other and underwater areas to hide, and enough basking places they are fine.

[steve]

200x50x50 is good... can you find one that is wider? Mine are currently in a 125 gallon tank that is 60 cm wide. Its nice for either of them to make 180 degree turns and get away from each other. But if all you can get is 129 gallons... that is great too.

[Breigh]

Yeah I think the 200x50x50 is probably the biggest I'd be able to get. Either that or 150x60x60 or something. In any case it won't be for at least 6 months or so. Hopefully they'll be ok in the tank they are in for another little while.

[steve]

Thats a lot of good planning. Either tank sounds great... they'll be so lost in there.

[mackadocious]

my boy an girl have been together for 5 years now with no issues whatsoever.....other than the girl being better at catching food, which i think has aided her in getting bigger an fatter than my boy....

[rocketright]

Hmm, Just be careful... Maybe keep a stock tank ready just incase... As yes they may herass the female sometime... They may show agression, and if they do you should seperate them that moment.