Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I'm new to this forum so forgive me if this has been addressed repeatedly. I have two musk turtles along with two eastern painted and a RES. The two musks always stayed together at the bottom of the aquarium and seemed "best buds." Just in the last couple days one began basking all the time--I was afraid he/she was sick so I've been keeping a close eye on them all. Well, last night I found the one snipping at the one who has been basking so now I know why he/she has been "hiding." Is this common? Will this pass? He/she is only snipping at the other musk, not at everybody. (I know my painteds can be aggressive, but the musk?? They are usually such sweet little clowns!) Thanks.

well i am sure there are others here who know more about this but i'll tell you what i know. It seesm to depend upon the species. I have some loggerheads and razorbacks that i keep together. i was told that this was a bad a idea because of conspecific agression. I had no problem for a long time until one day i saw a male loggerjead mauling his "buddy"
Now i have them all seperated. I also keep sonorans and they never seem to bother each other and i have kept stinkpots together before sometimes they were agressive sometimes not.

As far as the basking thing goes i haven't seen this with musk but i have with other species. I have two caspian turtles which were kept togther for a few months (both male) and i noticed one basking more frequently. It turned out that the other one was attacking it EVERY time it came into the water and so it was forced on the log to be safe. Eventually i seperated them as well. I don't know what species of musk you have or what gender they are but my guess is you will need a new home for one of them.

Are they all togther with the RES and the painteds? IS the tank really big.?
I did find the stinkpots at least fought less when they had more space but i am sure this wasn't the only factor.