Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:45 pm
Most of the time no, sometimes yes. Some turtles are okay with being around other turtles, some don't care either way, and others hate the very idea of another turtle being around them.
Coming from my own experiences, I have one turtle who puts up with the other but would rather be alone, and the other turtle is very clingy. I want the clingy one to grow out of it, because they only like certain things, which would give me a chance to make two awesome setups. If you see them together, it's kind of amusing, but, this is not the normal. Typical RES are very territorial. (I'm glad mine can interact, because at least they know what another turtle is, that they are a turtle, and now they had a chance to try a living condition that can be changed later).
Turtles do get kind of bored easily. River rocks, plants, and anything small they can lift or move around without ingesting will keep them entertained. You could try increasing your interaction with the turtle. Handling from time to time, or just standing still in front of the tank and watching him swim. If he shies away it's all right because he'll get used to it.
Phryne - Japanese bobtail, 11 y.o.
Hurricane - RES, approx. 19 y.o., 7.00in. long
Typhoon - RES hybrid, approx. 19 y.o., 8 in. long
Sadie - RES, approx. 30+ y.o., 11.5in. long
Sophie - Colombian red tail boa, 15 y.o., 5 ft. long
I do it all the time.