General Care Discussion :: Mating Questions.

[Pizza]

Well I just got my turtles two days ago (they're all 10+ years old, so all adults), the smallest being the male, along with three females, one 11-12 inches (which I think has eggs in her, from neverending swimming and clawing at glass). I'm planning on making a nest area, unfortunetely the biggest container I could find is only about 1.5x to 2x her size, and what should I do if she rejects the site?

Just did a partial water change a few hours ago, and left the turtles alone, when I came back to check up on them a few minutes ago, the male was vibrating his claws in another female's face. Looks like the female has been swinging her head away (maybe to prevent from being hit). Well the female ran away and has been swimming in circles away from the male, the male still chasing her now (been about 10 minutes since I've been watching, but don't know how long this has been going on since earlier today). Did she reject him, or will she give up and give the goods later? How long does this go on, and how will I know the female rejected the male (unless they never say no).

Also, how many times in a year, do turtles mate, or how many times can a male mate in a year, as well as females, unlimited?

Would be a little troublesome if I found out all my females had eggs within a matter of days of recieving my turtles.

Again, even now, the female is being chased around the tank by the male, and the male is still vibrating his claws, how long will this go on, and what could it mean? Thanks.

EDIT: Looks like they stopped...for now. The female chased and snapped back at the male for a bit, then he gave up, but he will probably try again, right?

[Jessica313]

this is most likely an agression thing because their living area is too small. i highly suggest seperating them because one of them could get seriously hurt

[industrial_girl_2000]

Oh man, I agree with Jessica313, separate them.

Read the area on nesting areas on this website:

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Nestsites.htm

When I had Sheba in the tank with a smaller male, she used to lay eggs twice a year. They were always unfertilized, but just having the male there in the tank with her forced her to lay eggs! And he aggravated the tar out of her for several years (they fought and fought & she snapped at him, one time he ended up with a sprained arm & broken nails) before I finally just had to give him to a friend. Life in my household has been peaceful ever since, and I am happy to report that she has not laid eggs in the last 7 yrs.

Keep in mind that after you remove a male from the tank, a female turtle may continue to lay eggs for several years after that. Some never stop laying eggs! I was fortunate enough that mine did stop.

[marisa]

I asked this in response to another one of your posts---how big are your turtles and how big is the tank/container they're in?

[Pizza]

Well, from my other post:

"And right now their current enclosure is too small I know that, at 90G, I plan on getting a larger tank (or several smaller) in the next few months, if I can sum up the $$$, or I'll just get a big tub of some sort. The turtles like to be together though, that's for sure, they all huddle up together. ".

Well for the past three days there hasn't been any activity, I'll give them a few more weeks to see how things go. The male occassionally comes out swims with the others, or hides under the dock with another female.