General Care Discussion :: Multiple Turtles? Why?

[Tiny]

It seems to me that there is ALOT of discussion on this site about having multiple turtles and MOST experienced hobbiests discourage it becuase of maintinence and aggression issues.

It strikes me funny because I love my cat and I love my turtle, each having thier own personalities that make them cute and special. We have a relationship based on individuality. I resisit the urge for multiples because I feel the social impact would have an effect on thier personality and our relationship.

I'm curious if there are differing personalities within multiples. Can you still esablish the individual relationship with each?

I would never want to change my turtle or cats personalities and it is that reason why I never have considered multiples regaurdless of aggression and maintinence.

Tiny

[Bladedvixen]

Tiny. I agree with you but for different reasons. Turtles and house cats are generally solitary animals that do not prefer company. There are millions of animals in the world that operate this way. most reptiles are not social critters and will often let their agression take over when it comes to mates and territory. People like to think that all animals work the same way that dogs and people do. People need other people around to feel happy just the same as a dog needs its pack. Overall, I believe that a great percentage of people that get multiples of an animal feel they need to because that animal is "feeling lonely" ... (how somebody decides that their turtle is lonely is beyond me )

[Starchick]

I definitely understand the urge to have multiple turtles, I have 4 myself. But keeping them together is out of the question. Two of my turtles show serious aggression toward each other out of the tank, so I'd hate to imagine the damage they would do if let loose on each other in the water. And we've had Moxie nearly a year, and just recently she started passing worms in her stool. I'd hate to think of what would have happened if we thought it was okay to put her in with one of the others after a quarantine period.

As far as personalities, I always worry when I get a new pet that my affection will somehow be stretched thin, but it hasn't happened yet. They are all unique, and I find that I love them all for different reasons.

Just out of curiosity, where are you in upstate NY? I'm from Syracuse but I'm going to school in Utica right now.

[BullDog]

You know, I totally think like you do!
A while ago, I was thinking how much I would love another cute kitty, or a dog, or even a few fish. Then I thought of Ralph and Smudge, and how much I love them, and how much I love to lavish attention on them, and imagined that somehow another pet would lessen my affection for them.

But then, I came across Frankie and (as corny as it sounds ) she crawled into my heart. And I love them all just as much, even more perhaps, because they all have such different personalities.

I think it all has to do your situation in life at the time, and how a new pet enters your life.
When I came across Frankie, it was near the end of the winter break, and I had been actually thinking about pets. If she had been in a good habitat, and I was confident the petstore would find her a good home, I might not have even looked twice at her.

[PcBuilder14]

Yeah, before I found this website, I thought my turtle was lonely, and now I don't really want one of my turtles. For one reason it has been sick for about a month, but the only way I would get rid of it is if it died, but I don't want that to happen, but I don't want it.

[Swaypippin]

I am what you would call selfish. I can't just have one. But I don't agree with having trillions of animals either. There's not enough time in the day to pay attention to them all. And yes I know RES don't really require that much attention but you've got tank cleaning and maintaining, feeding, and what ever else we do with them. Basking outside, even spending some quality time with them.

I personally have two dogs, two cats, two turtles (do you see a pattern here) and one Rat. Sadly the rat, her name is Narcissa, or just Cissa, is about to die. She's just reached that point in her life where rats usually just go to sleep and never wake up.

The dogs play together, with the cats (no aggerssion at all surprisingle) so that takes some of the "play with me now" attitude away from me. But I have a routine everyday with the animals. We wake up, take the dogs out, feed the turts, pet the cats, feed the dogs, play with the dogs, brush the cats outside, let the big dog out for a few hours (weather permitting, and given he keeps his barking to a minimum), play outside with the little dog, bring the turts out to bask. And from there it winds down.

I feel all of mine have very different personalities, and I usually know what they want before they do. But this is also coming from someone who prefers to stay home with her pets than go out... I'm such a lame 22 year old.

[howzitnani]

I agree that it can be alot of maintainance and demanding on my attention, (not to mention quite expensive) but i have 5 turtles and love them all. They all have their own quirks and personalities, and right now they seem to be getting along quite well. I do have back up tanks (right now 3 tanks total and hopefully 100+ gallon on the way, plus a pond) in case one becomes ill and needs to be put in isolation or if some start fighting.

i don't plan on getting anymore "kids" to add to our family until we buy a really big house.

I'm just a great big animal lover with turtles right there at the top of the list.

[TheComputerGremlin]

Now, I've had a single cat and cat pairs before, and I can definitely say there is a difference between them. My first cat was by herself her whole life, and she was fine, she had 4 people to love her. But when she passed away, we got a pair of cats and there was such a difference. They interacted (and had plenty of alone time too), and when one of the pair passed away, the other one's entire life was shattered. She is still alive and fine, but she hasn't been the same since the other one died. After having a pair of cats, my mom and I both said that we would never have a single cat again, since they seem so happy.

So when I moved out, I got a pair of cats. They both have individual personalities, they have both claimed one of the two humans as their pets, but they still spend time sleeping and grooming together. When one is locked up for "time out" (sadly one of the only ways to get through to her that she's been bad), the other sits dutifully outside the door waiting for her. Sure, they occasionally fight, but nothing serious or harmful, usually just chasing around.

However, I know that there is a difference between reptiles and mammals. My turtle doesn't want to be cuddled or played with or anything really but fed, so I don't worry about lavishing him with lots of love and affection. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but I don't know if he knows or cares what that is. So he's more of a show my affection by keeping him fed and his tank clean kind of thing. My cats, on the other hand, can't make it more than a few hours without coming over and reminding me that they need attention.

When I get a house (someday, hopefully soon!), my husband and I plan on getting probably 4 dogs to add to the family. I know dogs need more attention, but even I told my husband that if I got a dog, I would demand a pair, so that at the very least, they have one another. I'm not at the point of being a horder, just yet!

[VanishingReality]

(sadly one of the only ways to get through to her that she's been bad)

Sounds like my house. She is not exactly... smart and is under the impression that everyone she comes in contact is her slave. And even when I do that, she still cries so loud you can hear here everywhere in the apartment.

[SpotsMama]

We had one cat previously and loved him dearly and he loved us. When he passed on, we got two cats - brothers. Nothing is more fun than watching those two play and groom each other. They are very loving with us, too, even more so than our previous only cat. They have their claws and we were concerned about them tearing up the house but instead of spending their energy destroying the house, they use it playing with each other.

[Tiny]

I am so pleased with all the feedback. it sounds like we all get that the mammals need friends. The reptiles don't.

What i really wonder though, is if turtles generally have thier own personalities, and if having multiples changes thier individual personalities.

I really beieve that Tiny has a cute little connection with me and her family of human in our home. Maybe it's crazy to think it's more than just food becuase i know they don't have the "mammalian brain" part that gives them emotion like cats, dogs and humans.

I just never wanted to screw with Tiny and the cool way that she is individually. Like cats get jelous, but turtles don't right??

[zoologist]

i find it very annoying when people try to attach human emotions to animals, especcially reptiles. mammals i can understand.... reptiles, no.
however, with that being said, there is a corn snake at work that i KNOW loves to be held, her whole attitude changes when she's out of the tank. and she doesnt mind to be petted by little hands which is a plus when trying to teach kids to respect snakes.

[mikee]

Cats are cats, dogs are dogs and turtles are turtles. The only relationship you have with a turtle is, you are their food source. No more no less. Most red eared sliders don't like too much company and if you do there must be a lot of room for them to get out of each others way.

[Tiny]

Hi guys-

First, Zoo- Yes it is annoying, but we do get all attached to our animals, wether they are into us or not. You did make a very valid point though-
THE ANIMALS HAVE ATTITUDES, thus personalities, that do change by human interaction, for example the corn snake-

So, if I'm gettimng your view correctly- human relationships with the reptiles does generate or change the animals attitude/personality, right??

That is eactly what I've been trying to get at-

Multiples or additional turtles, therefore could also change the animals attitude/ personality for better or worse depending on the individual. therefore- if you have a cool tutle thing going with an individual, then a new turtle could change the whole vibe and ruin the individual animal's personality/ attitude.

Zoo- thanks so much for getting to it with the topic. This is the discussion I was getting at.

[mikee]

Zoo – If someone want to think that turtles have emotions that is okay by me. My grandchildren do it all the time.

Tiny- Turtles do not have attitudes as such. They are primal animals and they are somewhat different but that is only survival behavior. By adding another turtle the only thing that will change is how he going to survive. Turtles only eat, poop and propagate and would not hesitate to eat his tank mate. Any human relationship, other than providing food, is what you think it is - nothing more.