Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male and female box turtle that I have had for 7 yrs they have always been together. I have witnessed before the mating fighting but they just started a very aggressive fighting. biting at each others heads like nothing I have ever seen before. Is this normal? I have witnessed breeding but have never got eggs.

thanks for any help not sure what to do

Tracey

sounds like your probly have 2 males,
also.. you didn't say what subspecies they are..

They are eastern box turtles and I know they are male and female. One they have been to a reptile vet for checkups and I have witnessed mating before. You know where they are actually hooked up
Tracey

7 years and no eggs?
Do you mean the eggs have never hatched, or she's never produced eggs, or you've never found them?
Do you know how old the turtles are? The female may be "underage".
What is the size of the pen? Is there a suitable place for the female to dig a nest? She may be laying eggs on the surface and they're being eaten before you find them.
If they are sharing small quarters and cannot avoid eachother, then it might not be unusual that they become more agressive.
I have seen one male mount another, have his feet get clamped in, so that it appears that mating is occuring when in fact he's merely stuck.
You haven't described any physical differences between the two turtles: can you tell us what leads you to believe that they are male and female? If your vet isn't a herp vet with box turtle experience, he/she may be making assumptions about gender based on what you say about "mating" taking place, which may not be whats happening.
Stephanie