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I have 2 mas RES's I adopted approx 6 months ago. In a previous topic what my wife and I call "spirit finger fights" we found out it is really called fluttering and is a precursor to aggression. We have never witnessed an escalation of aggression past this (I realize we don't watch them 24/7) until a few days ago. Jack, the older guy (approx 5-6) and Bud (approx 4-5) are starting to get a little snippy. Just last Thursday the tank heater took a dump and I had to purchase a new one. Friday the UVB/basking hood died as well, Replaced Saturday. Neither is exactly like the one it replaced. Could It be that the new things in their tank is causing enough stress to push them over the edge? Or is it possible that Bud is reaching sexual maturity and is now vying for a more dominant position in the tank. They have both been in the same tank since Bud was introduced to Jack 4 years ago. They have never (to any ones knowledge) been aggressive like this or caused injury to one and other. Any body run across anything like this. We Don't have the space to separate them (they are in a 125 gallon tank now), but I would hate to have one hurt the other or one live stressed out because of the other. thanks!

I just posted this in another topic, but it's impossible to tell. A new heater is not likely to stir things up. Do they have a large enough basking area?

12"x6" flagstone centered underneath the heat lamp ample room for both to be on the rock and still enjoy the heat. It just trips me out that this started almost (literally) over night.

I was in a similar position. I really hated to separate them, but one turtle was constantly escalating the aggression (the other never fought back) that basking routines were interrupted.

quick update, the boys have seemed to have sorted it out! they're getting along swimmingly again (pun intended)!

what size is there tank. Usually the fluttering is over space.