General Care Discussion

I fell in love with a baby yellow belly cooter the size of a half dollar today at the pet store. I couldn't help myself, so we bought him, although we already have a 4 inch RES. We tried introducing them to each other and my RES was not having it. He tried to attack him. Naturally, our RES comes first, so we took back the baby cooter who might I add was absolutely precious. Now our RES won't stop acting a fool. He tried to bite me twice as well as my girlfriend. And then when I tried to wipe water stains off the top of the tank from him splashing, he snapped at the towel and bit a hole in it. He won't stop snapping at us, even through the glass of the tank.. And he's still acting mean ever since. I do not know what to do!

what would you guys advise??? please help!!!

Your res just probably figured out that you mean food. It's normal for them to snap at everything. Everything is food until they bite it and realize it's not. Even then they will still try to eat it. They are reptiles driven by instinct. It's normal.

But he was never like that before, we could pet him and play with him all day long and now he just wants to bite us.

When ever I stick my hand or finger inside his tank/water he smells it and takes little snaps at it, they don't hurt but that doesn't mean he's a "aggressive" turtle he just thinks you are food are have food.

But he's never done that before and now he's doing it like crazy... why is this happening? And his bite actually does hurt lol. Strong jaw that boy has!

Hm maybe he's a bit paranoid from that other turtle? He might calm down after some time.

Your turtle is 4 inches which means he's a teenager. Who ever said teenagers were fun. No seriously he is growing up. Going from that scared hatchling phase that anything can eat him to the hey I can eat anything phase.

Hopefully he'll calm down soon. A 4" turtle shouldn't be kept with a hatchling anyway

I hope... he won't stop being rude. He's so unique and awesome, but he's being super rude. I truthfully don't know what to do. And of course we had to fall in love with the hatchling.

I mean look how precious this little guy is...

If you can manage a second enclosure, or divide a larger one, then it's no problem

OMIGOSH SO FLIPPING CUTE! I second the second enclosure!

We literally have no room in our one bedroom apartment. We are looking into a two bedroom, but there is no guarantee we'd even get it. And I don't have the money for another enclosure, let alone filter, lights, etc. And I'd love to get a bigger tank and maybe even put a separator in there of some sort and maybe eventually the two could coexist, but my stand is made for the size of my 40 gallon breeder. What should I do!!??

Maybe buy a cheap 10/20 gallon for the meantime? they don't take much space up and you can buy a UVB/UVA for 15 bucks and a dock for 20.

Or even a rubbermaid

General Care Discussion :: My RES is turning aggressive, please help!!!

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