Reptile & Amphibian Forums

should a male be kept with a female year round? I have two 3toed in an outside pen 4x8. there are about 4 seperate covered hidey spots. 2 are the butte ends of coconut fronds-they make a natural cave entrance. 1 is an old avocado log with the interior rotted out and the last is a plastic cave buried in the ground with a coconut frond covered entrance.I thought they would like it the best, but no one seems to enter.

The male seems to be in constant "rediscovery" of the female and wants to mate each time he "finds" her. I think it makes the female want to avoid him and hide. The local bufo's also invade. The ag extension have told me that there is no problem with disease.

next month they are all being moved to a permanent turtle housing that we are constsructing in old water cistern, and I want to plan it correctly. I have added a florida box recently but she has her own cave and stays around it. She is recovering from a dog injury and is just beginning to eat. I have been thinking of dividing the space. Is that a good idea? Dividing but letting them see each other?Thanks. /p

I would divide the enclosure and only put them together for a short period of time if you are wanting them to breed. If you don't want them breeding then I'd keep them apart all the time.

Males tend to be relentless in harassing the females. I have one indoor female who does not want to be bothered by the male. She ran into him a few times over the summer when she was outside getting sun, exercise, etc. I never allow her outside unless I am watching her.
She does not want him near her, she bites at him, I was afraid she was going to hurt him! Each time they ran into one another I picked her up & took her away from him. I do not want her breeding so I absolutely keep her away from him all the time.
Once our new pen is completed this male will not be allowed inside it, only females.
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PHRatz

thanks. will separate when I move them. I do not want hatchlings/p

I have a pair of box turtles that I have kept year round together for about 15 years. The male leaves her alone for the most part. Only during early spring does he mate with her then for the rest of the summer till the following spring he leaves her be. He will occasionally attempt to court her at other times but not as relentless as his spring time game. I think it really depends on the turtle some males are more relentless to mate and other aren't. If he harass her too much I would separate since the constant harassing will make her slightly reclusive and reluctant to explore as much, and is simply not healthy for her. It is funny though each spring when I place my pair in there outdoor enclosure my male looks at my female like he has never seen her. I feel like saying yo buddy this is the same turt you've seen for the last fifteen years. Pretty funny stuff.

>> I think it really depends on the turtle some males are more relentless to mate and other aren't.

I think you're right about that. It depends on each turtle, they really do behave differently, no two are ever the same.
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PHRatz

I have a male and female 3toed in the same outdoor enclosure. He does mate with her frequently (especially in the spring and late summer) Other than that, he really doesn't bother her too much. She is actually bigger than him and can be a bully around feeding time, mostly pushing him out of the way, but no biting. They are both able to eat plenty though. Provide plenty of hiding spots and a places to bury themselves and I don't think it will be a problem.

If you let them hibernate together, plan to get babies. I've had them outside together for almost 3 years and I've found 9 babies so far (those little buggars are hard to find!). I'm sure there are more out there too.

Oh yeah, I forgot, don't put the Florida box in the same enclosure with the other two. It could be a little stressed with its injury trying to compete with the other turtles. If it is a male, the other male might pick on it. If it a female, the other male may try to breed with it.

that's a dear pix. I have had them together for about 18 months and he never does quit.They have laid eggs, but no hatching. told at the local pet store that they don't viable breed here. something to do with seasons. didn't make sense. I don't want hatchlings, so guess I should separate them./p

>>that's a dear pix. I have had them together for about 18 months and he never does quit.They have laid eggs, but no hatching. told at the local pet store that they don't viable breed here. something to do with seasons. didn't make sense. I don't want hatchlings, so guess I should separate them./p

What the pet store said doesn't make sense to me either lol.

Patsy since you don't want any eggs to hatch it would be good to not let them breed because female turtles can have dystocia which means they can become egg bound. This happens in pet birds a lot and well... basically anything that lays eggs.
When they can't get the eggs out of their bodies if they aren't treated by a vet they don't live.
That has a lot to do with why I keep my females with health problems away from our aggressive male.
It also has a lot to do with why I keep turning down offers for more sulcata tortoises. We have our one rescued female who will not be bred ever, period! I don't want any others around her that might stimulate her to cycle then develop eggs. I for sure do not want to end up with her being egg bound & needing surgery.
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PHRatz

you seem to have done quite a bit of animal care! I have had an egg bound hen. Not something I want to do again. will follow your suggestion.thanks./p

>>you seem to have done quite a bit of animal care! I have had an egg bound hen. Not something I want to do again. will follow your suggestion.thanks./p

It's my life Patsy.
When I was 7-8 years old we lost our beloved parakeet to egg binding. I remember that like it was yesterday & also wouldn't want to go through that again.
This is why I refuse to take in male lovebirds we've been offered. We caught our female in the backyard, we don't need her breeding any more than we need the turtles doing it!
My vet has had to spay several egg bound reptiles, I don't even want to think about having to do that to a turtle or tortoise. You have to take their plastron apart to operate & that is something I absolutely want to avoid!
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PHRatz