Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everybody,
I recently posted about my 10 month old male Maps. How Map1 relentlessly pursues Map2 just so he can do the finger shuffle in Map2's face. Map2 has taken to snapping at Map1 to ward off the persistent advances. The only time it stops is when they're eating or Map2 climbs out to bask.
Not anymore, today Map2 wedged himself head first under a log just to get some relief from Map1. Map1 swam arund in circles around Map2 waiting for him to come out to get air. After 20 minutes of this (4 times to the surface for air and back to the log) Map2 climbed out and up to the highest point on the basking log only to have Map1 climb up behind him, climb on top of Map2 and start twisting and pawing at him, actually pestering him until he gave up trying to bask and slipped back into the water. Where of course Map1 followed right behind so he could continue his attempts to charm Map2.
I don't have the facilities to house Map1 seperately, I can see this is stressing Map2 out. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Bob, Philadelphia.

Unfortunately this is one of the things you should be prepared for when you take on more than one turtle. The only option I see is to separate them into different tanks.

>>Hi Everybody,
>>I recently posted about my 10 month old male Maps. How Map1 relentlessly pursues Map2 just so he can do the finger shuffle in Map2's face. Map2 has taken to snapping at Map1 to ward off the persistent advances. The only time it stops is when they're eating or Map2 climbs out to bask.
>>Not anymore, today Map2 wedged himself head first under a log just to get some relief from Map1. Map1 swam arund in circles around Map2 waiting for him to come out to get air. After 20 minutes of this (4 times to the surface for air and back to the log) Map2 climbed out and up to the highest point on the basking log only to have Map1 climb up behind him, climb on top of Map2 and start twisting and pawing at him, actually pestering him until he gave up trying to bask and slipped back into the water. Where of course Map1 followed right behind so he could continue his attempts to charm Map2.
>>I don't have the facilities to house Map1 seperately, I can see this is stressing Map2 out. Does anyone have any suggestions?
>>Bob, Philadelphia.
-----
*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

I was actually hoping to hear from someone that has seen this type of behavior in young maps. These guys are less than a year old, still hatchlings in my book.
What I need to know is; is the overt sexual behavior typical? Is it because of the time of year? Will it fade away after a month or 2?
It doesn't appear to be harming either of the maps, so if this is life in the big lake, then I'll let it be.
Bob.

If either starts showing signs of health effects, you will need to separate them. Sometimes things can seem natural, but even in nature turtles can and do die of all sorts of things, so natural is not always best if your goal is a long lived healthy pet.

Keep a close eye on their eating and other habits, perhaps start weighing them regularly.

After the last post it occurred to me to try the guy who gave me the Maps, yes, gave them to me. Shawn @ turtle-town.
Shawn replies that all Maps do this, both male and female. It's apparently a harmless activity that kicks in at just under a year old and will go away.
Now we all know.
Bob, Philadelphia.