General Care Discussion :: agression?

Taking care of your turtle's overall health.

Post Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:49 am   

The little one sounds like s/he's being bullied.

If you calculate given the above guideline, and were to try to keep all 3 in the same tank, ideally about an 80-gallon tank/container. I'm not sure 80-gallon tanks are the norm, so go larger, a 90-gallon tank.

Some people calculate the space for multiple turtles a bit differently, allowing half as much the space for a additional ones (but there's a limit to how far this can be done). More space is better, and it is possible that with even more space the bullying will continue. Providing places in a larger tank for a turtle to hide/get away from the others is good, as is providing objects that will help break of their sight lines (so they don't have to look at each other all the time).

There's also a rather large size difference between a 1 and 4-inch turtle. You might want to separate the smallest one from the other two and give him his own set-up until he's bigger. The other two, if kept together still need a larger tank/container (the 20-gallon tank is adequate for a turtle with a shell length of 2 inches).
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:21 pm   

why is one growpng and not the other?
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Post Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:51 pm   

It's possible the tiny one isn't getting a fair share of food which is why you should feed them separately. In a 20 gallon tank I'm also having trouble imagining that all the turtles can bask... you're going to need a larger tank/tanks to prevent illness.
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megcornell
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Post Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:08 pm   

Also, if the smaller one is being bullied, he is being stressed, which will also eventually affect his development...
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Post Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 2:11 pm   

It is a mating ritual and can also be a sign of aggression. Like others have said, probably aggression. I took a film of my turtles doing it. There is a clear 'leader' in the tank, and his position was perhaps challenged. He's still the leader though...these youngsters never learn.... :)

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Post Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 6:41 pm   

thank you so much for the video. it is exactly what big momma does. i also think she is the leader as well.:):):)
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