Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had my RES for 2 years now and I love him dearly. I was wondering recently if he was lonely so i started looking around for another RES. I live in Connecticut and none of the pet stores had any (plus i don't trust quite afew around here anyways). When i finally found a turtle it was a sinde neck turtle. I asked the people at the store if they would get along and they said that the turtles would be fine. About 5 minutes after putting the new guy in, my RES started attacking him. First biting his shell, then finally he bit his head. There didn't seem to be any damage to the side neck so i brought him back to the store.
Franklin (my RES) has always been a bit snappy. he will try to bite my fingers when i take him out of the tank or try to fix something that he pulled apart in the tank. (IS THE SNIPPYNESS NORMAL)
did he attack the other turtle because it was a diff kind?
should i take the chance of trying to add another RES to the tank if i ever find one?

One other thing, about a month after i got him his shell started to peak. i asked everyone i possibly could about it, but no one gave me a real answer. What should i do.

Well first of all... you definitely should have quaratined the new turtle because it could have had diseases and spread them to your RES. You are supposed to quarantine new turtles for about 3-4 weeks.

Also, i dont think it matters that the turtle was a different kind. if the new turtle was SMALLER than the res, he probably thought it was food and tried to eat it. This happens with everything that you put in the RES tank. I know that mine try to eat everything i put in there.

You probably should have tried to introduce them slowly (if the turtles are about the same size as each other)... but if there is a huge size difference, don't even try. Because the RES could definitely kill a new turtle.

The only way you could keep another turtle in with your RES is if you get a turtle of 'about' the same size and introduce them SLOWLY.

Plus, if you didnt have a big enough tank for the turtles, the RES could have been feeling territorial and tried to attack the other turtle because he was cutting into HIS territory.

And even through all of this, there is a chance that your turtle just doesnt want bothered with another turtle. I have seen PLENTY of posts that say "i lost my one turtle because my one RES killed the other one"... and sadly to say, sometimes turtles just can't live together.

If i were you, it sounds like your turtle doesnt want company. if he seems lonely, get him some toys. a bubble wand or a ping pong ball to swat around in the water. I don't think it's worth killing a turtle to find out if your RES is lonely!

But in the end, the choice is up to you....

now about the pointing of the shell. This could be caused by either a calcium definciency (which means you will need to somehow implement calcium into his diet.) You can either get a cuttle bone and cut it up for him to eat or you could get that calcium dust and sprinkle that on the pellets or the crickets.

this 'pyramiding' as they refer to it, could ALSO be caused by overfeeding your turtle. You should only be feeding your turtle enough pellets that will fit into his/her head about two - three times per week. All other times you should be offering him greens, such as collard greens, mustard greens and dandelion greens. And other such veggies or fruits (except SPINACH!)

hope this helps!
-----
~ Evie

Pets:
RIP 0.1.0 German Shepherd {Dusty}
0.1.0 German Shepherd/Collie mix {Shadoe}
0.0.2 RES turtles {Booger & Snot}
1.0.0 African Clawed Frog {Bingo}
0.0.2 Snail {Gary & Larry}

Thanks so much!
I guess he must really just want to be alone. But i didn't know that a new turtle would have to be quarantined. (see what i mean about not trusting the pet stores around here)
The other turtle is fine though. I brought him back that night and then called to check on him yesterday. It was a bit smaller than my RES, and there is definately enough room in the tank.
I actually bought calcium stuff for him the other day. But i was under the impression that he should be fed every day. I GUESS I"LL STOP THAT!! Although he expects to be fed, because if it's past the normal feeding time he starts scratching on the glass. I'll try this new routine and let you know!!
THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

okay first off, what kind of sideneck?? whatever it is, from south america, africa or astralia, there arent any sidenecks in america. so res should never be mixed with any kind of sideneck. next, you need to know never to trust anything they tell you at a pet store. your two turtles cant live together. youll have to keep two seperate tanks or ponds

I have heard you cannot mix an RES with any other turtle than an RES. We had a four year old that had never been with another turtle. We bought a small 11/2 and decided to put them together after the smaller one became ajusted to us. (about 3 weeks) At first we put the baby in only for a few minutes and watched closely. At first we were scared because of the size difference. The older RES would not leave the baby alone, he was in love. We kept mixing them for the next two days and finally they are together. My advice is to make sure you have a big enough tank and plenty of water so they don't feel invaded. Watch both of them carefully and at first you may want to feed them seperately. Our older RES is very protective over the younger and makes sure he gets food and snacks..it's so cute. The older use to be aggressive (like yours) and snap at us all the time. He is alot better now that he has seen the way we handle the baby. This may calm yours too. If that doesn't work try a few toys. Our turtles like ping pong balls, plastic water bottle caps and foam rings. Good luck

Thnaks alot!! I'll let you know

i don't know what kind it was. but it was a gray color. I definately hate pet stores but i normally trust this one that i got the other turtle. but i did bring him back the day that i got it.
thanks