Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have two western painted turtles and lately the male has been biting the female alot. I know they occasionally do this when it is mating season but lately it has been getting worse. They have been in the same 40 gallon tank for two or three years. Today he bit her on the neck which is not out of the ordinary except for the fact that he did not leg go like usual. He bit her behind the eye where the extra skin is. Then she retracted into her shell and he still did not let go. Then they sat motionless on the bottom of aquarium. This whole ordial went on for 5-10 minutes before I picked them both up to try to break them apart. My usual tap on the shell or touching the head did not work this time. But I touched His tail and he must have withdrawn a little because them she came out of her shell and was scratching his head while I was holding them trying to get them to come apart. So I have three questions. Does anyone know why he is biting her harder and holding on longer? And does anyone have any good techniques to break them up if this happens again? Another question is would they drowned themselves on the bottom in this little grudge match? Any help would be great.
Thanks
goalkper7

I would seperate them for awhile. He may do some damage to
the female if she is not accepting his advances.

Linda