Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have introduced a new male Eastern box turtle into a 17 x 11' enclosure. There are 6 other turtles in the enclosure. Only 1 is a female. They are all adults about the same size and are getting along very well despite the skewed reptographics. #7, though, this new one, is a problem. He's attacking every other male in the enclosure. He even tried to drown one! I'll have to give him away if this aggression persists. Any ideas???

I think you're either going to have to keep this one in a seperate enclosure or find him a new home.

Laurentha: OK, if things don't work out ya want him?

Acutally, the way I would have done it was put him in a blocked off/fenced off area where he could see other boxies. After a week of that, I would have mixed him with the rest. Since you already put him in, I wouldn't separate him at this time. I would watch him carefully for at least a few days before I separate him. I have dealt with this in the past and provided there is ample room for all the boxies to move about, "chomper" should settle down.
By the way, your ratio of sex of males to females is off. I prefer it be reversed. (6 females to the one male is fine) or even 3 males to 4 females is ok. Sometimes you bring out the worst in males in that situation. Good luck.

Hey, turtle88a: This is sooo amazing! 1 minute before I read your post I just decided to do what you suggested! I thatched together a temporary divider in the enclosure so he could get accustomed to being with the others. It's just so crazy that I came up with the idea right before I read this. It just confirms that this might be the right approach! As far as the "ratio" I'm not sure what I can do about that. Most of these guys are rescues . . .I don't usually buy box turtles and I’m not sure people sell Easterns anyway.

After a week or so of him trying to attack the others through your "fence". Release him into the general population. I know it will be hard to watch him go after the others, but if the others are up to par, they will just tuck themselves in. YOU HAVE TO WATCH!. After a while, He will just tire out and learn to accept the fact that he is not the only male. If your other ones are not up to par, they "may" get nipped. Just Watch. I have quite a few males in my colony & had some real terror males. (I posted a pic of one that I have on another board.) The only thing I do worry about are the number of males to the one female. That situation you DEFINITELY have to watch. It can come to the point that the males could literally harass the female to death. You may have to separate the female from all those males. Personally, I do not even like 1:1 ratio. Anyway, good luck.