General Care Discussion :: Could we have a problem?

[khobbs]

I don't know if I spelled that right either.

Anyways, I have to res in a take that is really only large enough for one of them. But being in a second story apartment, I can't afford to upgrade and don't really want to until we move, some time later this year. My res like to do the clawing at one another. There are still a little bit too small to tell the sex, but I thought one was going to be a boy and the other a girl. We will have to see. Anyways, if they were boy and girl, they will still be too immature to do the mating ritual, right? And is it only the boy that does it to the girl, or do they both do it? Or is this just aggression? So many questions. This morning before I turned their lights on, I noticed that they were both on the bottom of the tank and I could tell something was going on. So, I crawled over to the tank to see what they were doing. Sure enough they are going at it with the clawing. And Dana, the on that I think will be a boy, just kept clawing at Mercedes, maybe the girl. Even though Mercedes kept backing up, Dana kept going at her until she was under one of their plants almost up against the glass. So I turned the lights on and they didn't even react. I banged on the glass a little so they would stop because I didn't want one of them to get hurt. Any suggestions on whether or not this is aggression? They don't do it very often, and really seem to get along the rest of the time. I mean, it's very rare that I see this between them, although I have seen them do it before. I am just concerned because I really don't want to have to separate them, and right now, couldn't afford to separate them. Not to mention I don't have the space for it yet.

Sorry about the the LONG, and VERY random post.
Thanks.

[NewTurtleMommy]

My RES is in a 10 gallon tank right now, I just bought it quick like and because it was cheap. But a lot of people in here are telling me to get a plastic tub from Wal Mart when I need to upgrade. That sounds like it would be the perfect solution for you too!

[khobbs]

But, the thing is, I have no where to put it right now....

[cam722]

The 'mating dance' isn't just for mating purposes, sometimes it's a territorial thing. Is there any other signs of aggression in either turtle? What size tank do you have the two of them in and what are their sizes?

[NewTurtleMommy]

oh oooooooooooo hm, that could be a prob.

If you have two turts in a tank big enuf just for one, I know that cant be a good thing.

[khobbs]

Yes, I know that it's also a sign of aggression. What other signs would there be? I mean other than that they seem fine. They are almost 3 inches and are in a 30 gallon. I KNOW THAT IS BAD, but please don't start preaching to me how bad it is. Trust me, I know. There is just nothing that I can do at this moment. I know it's not a good thing and it needs to be enlarged, but I can't right now. I know how horrible that is, and I just don't need to hear that part from someone else. I am afraid that it is aggression, ok, I'm pretty positive that is it, but it will be taken care of ASAP. I'm not trying to be hateful, I just don't want to be told that I am a bad caregiver, because really I'm not.

[NewTurtleMommy]

No one is going to yell at you or anything. Like I said, I have a 10 gallon. Mine seems like she has enough room right now, and she is really happy, a lot happier than when I got her that is for sure. (The "thing" the previous owner had her in was about 5 gallons, plastic lil fish tank) I would guess that mine is about 3 in. too. I dont have the right to yell at you. I just got my turt on Saturday and Im just learning everything. As long as you know, and you are going to try your hardest As soon as my lil one grows at all, Im definitely going to get her one of those tubs. But, I do have the room for it. Im a single mom, in a one bedroom apartment, but I have the room. Wow, I am writing a book here... time to stop lol

[steve]

It won't be possible to tell if it will escalate but personalities do change for better or worse. Larger and wider tanks should help as well anything in the tank that can distract them (plants, decorations). Feeding them separately and out of the tank is also something you might want to try. Hopefully they will realize they won't have to compete aggressively.

[khobbs]

I know what you mean, I keep writing long posts, too. Well I too live in a one bedroom apartment, and have been maried for almost a year. And right now we just don't have the space for anything. I really wish that we did, but I don't know where we would put. We have NO space. We are actually looking to move into a bigger apartment. That will help alot.

[cam722]

The only reason I asked the size of the tank and turtles is so that others and myself could give you advice on how to deal with things. 30 gallons is a lot better than both being in a 10 gallon. Yes, it's not ideal but it could be worse.

As steve said, try to eliminate the things that would cause aggression, more times than not it's for food. Try feeding them separately.. and give them things to hide in so that they have a space to get away from each other. Just don't make it to crowding so that it takes away valuable swimming space.

Do you ever take them outside? Perhaps if you separate them when taking them out for some UVB that will give them some space for a bit of time too? Just some suggestions.

Just so you know.. when I first found this forum my turtles were in worse conditions than yours.. 3 turtles in a 20L tank.. so I'm the last person to point fingers

[missibsu]

I would venture to say that most of us have been in a situation of having a tank that was too small. I was stupid enough to believe that my turtles were going to live in that lagoon for a long time. With two cats in the house it became evident that they would have to go in something with a lid, so they got moved to my spare ten gallon. I wanted it to look nice so I added gravel. No heater, no lights, basking area...very little water. So, my point is. Don't stress over the fact that they aren't in an adequate size tank. The important thing is that you know it isn't enough, and you plan on doing something about it!

[khobbs]

Thanks you guys. I have never noticed when I feed them. I feed the both the same amount. And I feed them at separate ends of the tank, so they're not competing to see who gets the next piece. I know that they do like to hide in their plants and under them. Sometimes I can't find them. Should there be something else? I just haven't seen them act that way in quite a while, and this was yesterday morning before I even turned their lights on. So it was kinda weird.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Anyways, I have to res in a take that is really only large enough for one of them. But being in a second story apartment, I can't afford to upgrade and don't really want to until we move, some time later this year. My res like to do the clawing at one another.

Turtles are very territorial. I had the same probs you described with having 2 RES's in the same tank. The 4" male used to get in the face of the 9" female and she used to get aggravated and snap at him. Several times, he lost a nail because she snapped and broke one of his long nails.

In the short term, maybe you can let one of them out of the tank to walk around in the bathtub (or in a supervised area of your house). Then switch them out and let the other one walk around. This seemed to help my situation a lot & may be a short term solution & keep them from fighting (they can "walk off" the aggression & hopefully it will tire them out a bit).

Eventually both my turtles got too big for the tank (50 gallon tank) and I gave away the male to one of my friends who wanted a pet. It just wasn't worth the aggravation having to constantly break up their fighting!

[khobbs]

Well, I haven't seen them do it today, and I have never seen them snap at each other. I have never seen either one of them with an injury either. But I will definately work on a solution, FAST. Thanks for the input.