Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 3 male red eared sliders and one female southern painted turtle. ALl are approximately 2 years old. My question is...will the male sliders try to mate with the female painted? I prefer not to have a pregnant turtle!
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Seal Point Siamese (Mieko)
5 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, Tiki, & Romeo)
3 Red-Eared Sliders (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

I am not sure this cross will work. She may still lay eggs but they most likely would not be fertile. She is young at this point anyway. You should be more concerned that you have 3 male turtles in with one female. This can be very stressful and even life threatening for the female. Once the males get to age when they want to actively persue and mate with the female they will drive on her relentlessly causing injury by biting and possibly even drowning her. You need to separate her from the males or get at several other female turtles to offset the larger number of males. Just because they all may be getting along fine now doesn't mean it will stay that way.

Steve

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the reply. I understand that she is greatly out numbered. I do plan on separating them eventually. I actually only wanted 2 turtles, but ended up with 4 by a mistake by the place where I purchased the turtles from. We will be moving soon and the turtles will be getting a new tank/tanks. They need a much larger one than they are in now.

I just wasn't sure if the two species would even try to mate. I just want to be sure to NOT get anymore turtles.
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Seal Point Siamese (Mieko)
5 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, Tiki, & Romeo)
3 Red-Eared Sliders (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!

I don't think that will be a problem. LOL!! I know what you mean. I had six map hybrids (Texas x False) hatch this Winter. I run a rescue and have 20 permanent residents (and now 6 babies). They accumulate fast.

Steve

LOL...yeah I seem to accumulate animals in general...if I end up with any more I think my husband will kick ME out!

Good luck with your hatchlings!
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~Heather~
3 German Shepherd Dogs (Tasha, Austin, & Kaiya)
1 Seal Point Siamese (Mieko)
5 Firebelly Toads (Kirby, Gus, Pico, Tiki, & Romeo)
3 Red-Eared Sliders (Otis, Jasper, & Jade)
1 Southern Painted (Milo)
Check out my website with most of my pets!