Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HI, I currently have a female RES that is about 10" in length. I know she is sexually mature. I was wondering if it would be good to find a suitable size male and keep them together for the winter inside. Would this help them with breeding int he spring/summer?? Or are they somewhat like tortises and the males need to be kept away from the females until the breeding time?? Help she is LONELY !!!

First off -- I really don't think you have to fret over your turtle being lonely. As long as she has you to take care of her needs (food and clean suitable environment) she has all she needs to be content.

I not going to hit you with the long list that many folks who use the "b" word (breeding) get. Just say that it is not necessary to produce more and if you really want the experience then please be ready to find any subsequent offspring good suitable homes.

Now lets answer your question. You can get a companion for your turtle if you would like to have a second and have a suitable indoor enclosure for the winter months very easily and FREE!!. Just go to turtlehomes.org and fill out the application to adopt and send it in with a photo of you indoor and outdoor enclosures. If all looks good you will get a turtle and fast. I just brought home eleven of various sizes that are slated to go to someone who has a really nice set up.

Good luck in your quest.

Steve

To add to what Steve said, do you have a large haul-out area with deep dirt where the female can lay eggs? If you have an indoor set-up, but no place for the turtle to dig a nest, you risk egg-binding, which can be deadly, not to mention costly when you have to make a trip to the vet for x-rays and medication, and possibly surgery.

Katrina

I am not looking to breed the RES until spring when they can go to their outside pond. For the indoor enclosure, I have a cage the is about 5'L, 4' deep, and 3' wide, with a Fluval 404 filter, a heat light, and the full spectrum bulb with UVB. This is just the winter set up.

As for finding homes for the babies, That is not a problem. I am just wondering if the male needs to be seperated from the females like tortises do, or can they stay together all year long??

As long as the male is not harrassing or injuring the girls he can be kept with them year round. You still need an area indoors for the females to come up and lay eggs on. Just because you may want them to do all their breeding and egg laying outside doesn't mean that they will. Unfortunately -- as is the case with many animals-- they don't always read the rulebook