General Care Discussion :: Why male turtle fanning?

[Azfar]

Just want to know, why male turtle fanning? what makes he do dat?

Once in a while I saw my Totto fanning and he do dat when the lights out or nobody watching the tank. I sneaked him with torchlight.. haha.. after the 'black thingy' goes back in.. Totto will goes straight to the glass and show some angry face to me and open his mouth like want to bite me~ (maybe he try to say don't do that~! to him or maybe he just shy) ..

[roseK]

my turtle flutters at nothing sometimes too! atnight when the room is dark hes fluttering at the front of the tank, sometimes the back. and he also does it when i put black objects up to the tank

[TheComputerGremlin]

roseK, fanning is not fluttering. Fluttering is the little dance with their paws. Fanning is the male genitals coming out through the opening in the tail, signifying that you have a male.

As for why they do it, who knows. Some people find their turtles doing it when they are relaxed or stressed. I would imagine it's along the lines of why do dogs do similar things? As long as it's not kept out for long, it won't harm him. Though I might suggest you stop spying on his "private" time at night!

[roseK]

oooops my bad

[TheComputerGremlin]

Eh, no problem!

[Azfar]

Oh i see.. hehe.. ok ok.. I wont spy my Totto.. hehe..

I don't have dog so I don't know dog also do the 'fanning' thing hiks~!.. =P