Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pair of red sliders that I acquired from the local humane society to keep them from being euthanized. The female is about 8-1/2" long, the male considerably smaller (about 5". They have been happily together in the same housing for over a year. Recently she has begun to nip him. He has two wounds on his carapace at the shoulders and a bruise on his neck. I've separated them for now. He thinks he's being punished and is quite agitated at being separated, but when he's in with her he keeps his near limbs withdrawn and tries to keep away.

Question is whether this aggressive period will pass and can I ever put them back together, or are they irreconcilable? They didn't come with instructions *grin* (but then neither did any of my children).

Thanks!

Heinz

I had just the opposite experience, my male started biting the females. It wasn't getting any better, so he was removed. The pond is a much happier place now. Are they crowded? Those are some big turts for a typical aquarium set-up

Hmm... they may be a bit "crowded". I guess it's time to build that bigger pond.

Thanks!!!

Heinz

And as with children if they had a rule book neither would read it!! How large a tank are they in? I would keep them apart for a while and then try reintroducing them. You could rearrange the tank to make it look like a new territory. You should have a large area enclosure for two turtles of this size.

As far as feeling like he is being punished not to worry. They don't quite have that "time-out" mentality like humans. He just is aggitated about being moved from his comfortable environment to a strange one. He'll be fine and it is better than being chomped on.

Time and patience and a change of scenery for both when reintroducing is the best formula for getting the two back together again.

Good Luck

Steve

Thanks Steve!! Much appreciated. Maybe a partitioned pond for a while. I think I can manage that.

Heinz