Other Turtle Discussion :: What the heck are they doing with their legs?

[sarah]

Last night I noticed my turtles facing each other with their front legs prone and their feet slightly shaking. I am curious to find out what this behvior is?

[missibsu]

I believe that is what we call the mating dance!

[marisa]

There is a lot of info on this if you do a search...Basically, if turtles are sexually mature, the male will do what you described to the female to get her interested in mating (the beginning of the mating ritual). If turtles are not sexually mature, it's most likely a display of dominance. In your case, it's the latter, since they're not big enough to be sexually mature and they're doing it to each other. How big is the tank they're in?

[sarah]

uh-oh...I thought they were both girls....

I don't have a nesting spot....how woulld I go about fixing that?

&....what if we can't keep baby turtles? lol

HELP...!!

[sarah]

Sorry. I didn't see Marisa write back. I was to busy freaking out :p

Um...we are trying to find out if Bobbi is a boy, b/c apparently the claws are bigger then I thought...lol

I'll let you know what we find out.
I may take them to a vet to have them sexed if I can come up with some money.

[marisa]

You'll be able to tell the sex more reliably when the shell lengths without the curves are around 4 inches.

[missibsu]

Sorry, I didn't read the signiture that said they were smaller. Didn't mean to make you worry. However, I will say that I was supposed to have two girls and just found out that I have a boy and a girl. In response to some of those questions...females will lay eggs whether they are fertilized or not...most people just throw them away. Better not to wonder if they were fertilized or not. As for a nesting area...you have plenty of time to worry about that later if it is needed!

[sarah]

so...if they ARE fertilized, can they survive in the water w/out a nesting area?

& I heard that w/out a nesting area the turts may hold the eggs and make themselves sick, any truth to this?

[missibsu]

Yes! Without a basking area the females will tend to hold their eggs in and in some cases these eggs will break while still inside the female. If not caught quickly, it can lead to the death of your turtle. Courtesy of Carol on another post, here is a link with information http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/Nestsites.htm

[fishandcandy]

My turtle does it to me sometimes when I'm sitting outside of his tank.
Is this something only males do?

[sarah]

I think my turtle is a female, the one doing it.

& we do have a basking area.
It's a turtle landing, from PetCo.
Is that enough or do they need the mud?

[fishandcandy]

Your turtles sound a little small to be sexually mature.

[marisa]

Either sex will flutter their paws, and they'll do it at the most unlikely objects. If your turtle is doing it to you, think of it as turtle kisses.

[sarah]

haha. that's cute.

Yeah, my turts are small, but they're also old.
Does that matter though?

I think my Bobbi should be at least 4", she's over 3. She was just treated badly for most of her life until she came to me.

Squirt was treated badly as well, but I have no idea how old the little thing it.

[missibsu]

Your nesting site will need to be more than just the basking area that you have already. Search through the photo gallery for pictures. Mine are almost...right at 4 inches and I don't have a nesting area built yet.