Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Greetings all, about 2 years ago I posted the following:

I have 2 RES in a 29 gal tank. Due to my setup, and their total lack of interest in basking, I have never tried to make an easy way for them to get out of the water onto the platform in their tank. Yesterday I changed this by putting a driftwood ladder in the tank, leaning up to the terra cotta platform. they did figure out how to climb out and I felt good about the world. About an hour later they had "rearranged the furniture". they knowcked down the ladder and one of the 4 inch turtles seemed stuck under it and the other seemed to be helping him out, so I moved the fallen wood and they just looked at me like I was crazy. After setting it up again, I returned an hour later to find them again with the wood knocked down, but this time, the two turtles were REPEATEDLY engaged in the following activity: One turtle would push under the log as far as possible and the other turtle was using him as a wedge/lever to pry the stick into a different position. he would periodically swim up to the surface and stare, apparently getting his bearings on where he was going with the stick.

Now, I have 5 RES, the largest of which are those two turtles, in a nice 100 gallon pond with waterfall, nice basking area, etc, an RES paradise if I say so myself. The dominant large turtle George occasionally walks the perimeter of the triangular enclosure. She (I think they are all she-s) also seems to tell the others on what days they are all going to bask and when they will start to hibernate for winter based on some cue.

But the past few days, 3 of the turtles have been walking the perimeter which they have not ever done before. George has been climbing on to the waterfall (The highest point) and is trying to climb out. BUT THE KICKER was when TWICE today, Mildred was standing on the high spot and George was standing on his hind legs on her back trying to get out!

I state all this because I think both of these events clearly demonstrate organized goal-directed behavior by these turtles, which also implies that they MUST have some type of sophisticated non-verbal communication. In both events, the turtles involved clearly understood what the plan was.

Thoughts?

Jim Horwitz, MD
http://www.rainbowpediatrics.net/cgi-bin/album.pl?photo=pets/0403Turtles.jpg

George, Mildred, and Digger

I think you're on to something, Jim.

I have often thought the same thing. I have only one RES, which is about 3 years old. I believe that he, too, shows signs of intelligence. I have watched him in the tank, and he likes to rearrange certain items in his tank. For example, last night I bought some fresh water greens and placed them in a section to the left of the tank. Today, I saw him with his mouth around one stalk, looking as if he was dragging it. At the time, I thought nothing of it. Later, I found the greens hidden behind a big rock which happens to be a spot where he likes to hang out. He also follows my finger when I come to the tank, and pops his head out (and it's not just when he's hungry...sometimes I really feel he's looking for attention, because he ignores the food!!!).

So, I agree, I believe they have more brain power than previously thought...

I really think their intellegence is under-rated. They havent survived millions of years by chance or sheer brute force.

But still what gets me, is that I feel utterly convinced that these turtles are communicating- they must be to do the things that I have seen them doing! Maybe they have no language, but a very good sense of inference or anticipation and can easily follow the lead of the dominant turtle or something.