General Care Discussion :: Biting and chasing problems Injury scares baby turtles

[rfjedi]

Ok I have a 90 gallon tank. Its all I can afford atm. I have 5 turtles, 2 new borns probably about 2 months old about 2 inches shell length and 3 I got with tank or the deal for tank was off. The big large one is 6 inches shell female and 2 males both about 4-5 inches in length. They all do the dance thats kewl and all but the thing that scares me is the big female will chase the 2 males and sometimes even the 2 babies and bite their tale and back legs. I dont know what to do about it. Not sure what the dealio is. Any ideas Ill appreciate I dont want to have to separate them as they would not have adequate aquariums separately. If its simple as give them another ledge to hang on instead of community one Ill be happy with that. That big one woo is mean.

[steve]

PLEASE keep them separated. Turtles who can be kept together, should be roughly the same size.

[mikee]

rf-ji -- It is a dominance issue. The biggest and the meanest will dominate the others. While this pecking order is going on the larger ones may kill the smaller ones. It will start with a missing tail, then a toe, next a foot. It is the nature of sliders and there is nothing you can do about it unless you separate them. They are reptiles and in most cases a lesson we learn early on in turtle keeping. It looks like it will take another set up or getting another home for the little ones.

[Turtle Mummy 101]

I completely agree with Steve and mikee. The only way to slove this problem is to seperate them before one of your turtles really gets hurt!

[TurtleKeeper48]

I don't really support keeping males and females together either. Even if they're not reproducing (yet) males can sexually harass females to the point that they get no rest and really stress them out.

If you have hatchlings, adult female, and adult males - you need 3 enclosures. I know a 90 gallon tank seems just absolutely huge, but in the long run, it is not enough to house 5 turtles.

I suspect that you’re on the right track – you made the move to a 90 gallon. That’s a good move. Read up on this site –it’s great. You’ll figure out a way to take care of these 5 turt’s. Welcome to the site – good luck! Let us know what you do and how it works out.

[rfjedi]

Ok ill separate them but I have been raising these babys first the big ones just came. The two males are kewl so they will stay and tne babys, i will put the big girl one in a separate tank and put up for adoption ; ;

[bradmeisel]

good move

[rfjedi]

I know I have to either get a bigger separate enclosure for the female. Since i am separating the female out all I have is a 30 gallon tank for her and she is 6 inches long. Will she be ok in there for a week or so. I do have a filter heater and lighting for her tank.