All Turtles Message Board

btrikemia · Level 1 Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 6

I need some help interpreting my RES\'s actions. 2 weeks ago the male was courting the female (doing that thing with his claws), but I don\'t know if they mated. Now the male sometimes snaps at the female and bites the back of her neck. Is this bad, or is it just part of the courting? Do I need to seperate them?
Thanks for your help!
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Btrikemia (We love our turtles)

rfox · Level 3 Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 116

If he is biting her separate them.

sbturtlegrlz6 · Level 4 Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

ar eyou sure they\'re not female cuz the shaking of the hands is also a sign of dominece please separate.
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i LOVVVVVVVVVVVE TURTLES AND I HAVE TEN RES AND ONE PAINTER,I LOVE THEM THEIR NAMES ARE SPREE,MAC,REESE,CHUBBLES,BUBBLES,CLICK, FLOAT,REESIE,CABOODLES,SHESHE, Big eyed BABY JAWS!!! I LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TURTLES!!!!!!!!

mariza · Level 4 Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 1339

Males can get aggressive during the mating ritual, and I`ve read that the male can try to bite the back of the females neck, especially if she`s not being receptive. I would separate them for a while to let him cool down and give her a break.
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""You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."" -Antoine de Saint Exupery-

btrikemia · Level 1 Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 6

Thanks all for your replies. I think the problem is that they don\'t have enough space right now. We are working on fixing the tank to give them more room. I might separate them for a while until it\'s ready. Then try it again. He only does it once in a while and he doesn\'t actually bite, just snap at the back of her neck. In other words, he hasn\'t left any marks.
Thanks again for your help.
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Btrikemia (We love our turtles)

sbturtlegrlz6 · Level 4 Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Posts: 553

no prob. by the way what is your setup?
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i LOVVVVVVVVVVVE TURTLES AND I HAVE TEN RES AND ONE PAINTER,I LOVE THEM THEIR NAMES ARE SPREE,MAC,REESE,CHUBBLES,BUBBLES,CLICK, FLOAT,REESIE,CABOODLES,SHESHE, Big eyed BABY JAWS!!! I LLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE TURTLES!!!!!!!!

btrikemia · Level 1 Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 6

We have a 20 gallon fish tank (cheaper than a turtle tank- we got it on sale Smile

) with an undergravel water pump and lots of rocks. We have a heater, UVB light and a heat lamp. We built up some gravel on one side for them to get out of the water and they like it very much.

They are a lot of fun
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Btrikemia (We love our turtles)