Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok everyone!!!! I just got my newest baby!!! The latest addition is an ADORABLE baby albino RES!!! He is temp sexed to be a little boy. Thanks, Andrew!!! He arrived today in perfect condition! But there was only one problem...my little male cooter has trouble adapting to his new little brother. He just looked at him funny, and when the lil' guy took off swimming he followed him and started nipping at his teensy tail!!! = o
The new guy hardly noticed because he was enjoying strecthing his legs out after spending the night in a box! My stinkpot just kinda checked him out but then lost interest in him. So, I separated my rivals and now I'm wondering what to do??? I bought them to be friends...there isn't much size difference. HELP!!!!!!!!

J.L.

First of all it is best to keep new animals quarantined for a period of time. Especially a little hatchling. Give it a chance to get established and also make sure that nothing is wrong with it before you expose to your other turtles.

Next what is the size difference between the cooter and the slider?
And the size of the stinkpot.

Right now the cooter may be having his way with the new little one but beware of the stinkpot. I have seen them get quite aggressive and savagely bite turtles even much larger then themselves.

All turtles are individuals so you may not encounter this problem just beware of it!!

Advice -- keep baby separate for several months to be sure he is okay and established before introducing him to the other turtles.

Ya, he was perfectly fine...the stinkpot has no interest in him what so ever. I think the stinkpot might be a girl. It kinda checked him over..but then just got bored. I just checked on him and he is fine...no bite marks!!!

J.L.

Yes you should separate the little one for a few months just in case. Albino's, I hear, are harder to keep than regular RES. What size tank do you have them in? I remember when you had your turtles all in a small tank and that's why I ask. There needs to be plenty of room for all your turtles to get along and that doesn't always make turtles get along. Some turtles are just naturally aggressive no matter how big their tank is. After a few months when you do put them all together again make sure there is plenty of plants and other hiding places so the baby can hide from the other turtles if it needs to get away.

My cooter is about 2-3 inches and my new ones is about an inch. They're in a 75 gallon tank.

J.L.