I have 2 juvenile western painted turtles. They are both about 3 inches in shell length and approx. 1 yr old. I have a male and a female. For a while now, I've noticed that my male will follow around the female in what I thought was harmless flirting. But now, he is biting her feet, tail, and shell multiple times per day. Now every time he follows her, she tucks her feet and tail in trying to avoid the bite. When he does bite her it looks painful. I read that the males will do this prior to mating, but mine are still young. Is this a normal action for their age? Could it harm my female?