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Post by peekaboo on Jan 18, 2013 19:25:09 GMT
Hello everyone!!
So we have 2 terrapins who are about 1 year and a half old. One is a yellow bellied slider (Achilles) and the other is a map terrapin (Napoleon). We were told by the pet shop that we could have them together and that there would be no problems.
Everything was going well, aside from a bit of fanning mostly from Achilles and sometimes from Napoleon.
However, for a few weeks now I have noticed that Achilles bites Napoleon's tail every so often, especially when he is sunbathing with his tail in the water. This caused poor Napoleon to bleed a little :-( I thought for a while that he might be mistaking the tail for food however he is showing an increasingly bullying behaviour and we are worried.
My question is what should we do? We are considering getting a divider but are there any other options? Could it be because of the season?
Is this behaviour going to get worse?
We are considering giving Achilles away but then we don't want Napoleon to be lonely, and we do still like Achilles (a little bit!)!
I look forward to your advice!!
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Post by turtlegirl on Jan 18, 2013 23:09:01 GMT
Fanning can be part of a mating ritual but with two males it is a sign of fighting over territory and possible aggression. Once bullying starts and escalates to biting it is very unlikely that those two turtles will ever be able to live happily and safely together. I am very sorry but you must separate them IMMEDIATELY before the map turtle is seriously injured. If you can't get hold of or afford another tank for Achilles, large plastic storage crates make excellent cheap turtle homes. I use them as hospital tanks, nursery for babies and for unexpected new arrivals I have to adopt at short notice
You also need to treat any wounds on Napoleon's tail with antiseptic cream or dilute methylene blue before they become infected. I lost a turtle last year through a an infected bite that causes septicaemia. .
Don't worry, your map won't be lonely. Turtles can live happily alone and in any case being alone is far better than sharing a tank with an aggressive bully who attacks him.
Some turtles just don't get on with others and are best kept alone. I have 20 turtles most of whom share large tanks and get on well as a community but I have one that will attach anybody of either sex even larger turtles and cannot share a tank with anyone else. He even bites other turtles when they are out in the garden basking on grass.
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Post by peekaboo on Jan 19, 2013 8:30:10 GMT
Thank you so much for your reply... We are trying to find a divider to put in the tank so that they can both stay in there but won't be in contact...
However, if it doesn't work out, where could we give Achilles away? I don't even now where to start!
We live in the London by the way.
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Post by turtlegirl on Jan 23, 2013 23:42:21 GMT
I hope the divider idea works. An easy cheap way to divide a tank is to superglue those plastic binders that hold sheets of paper together on opposite sides and slide a thin piece of perspex cut to size through them on either side. Or you can use the stiff plastic mesh used for cross stitch work obtainable from craft shops instead of perspex.
If this doesn't work, would you consider keeping Achilles? I live in London and may be able to offer Napoleon a permanent home if he is indeed a male map as I have a map species tank. Unfortunately all my 20 rescue turtles live in community tanks and bask together in outside garden pen in summer so I can't take in any aggressive biters who attack other turtles.
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Post by peekaboo on Jan 24, 2013 18:30:42 GMT
Well giving Napoleon away would be last resort and I really love him and want to keep him. For now I have resorted to put Napoleon in plastic storage crate as you suggested in your last message. My only question is how does it work heater wise? For now I've put the crate by the home heater so he gets a little heat. Obviously this is only until we get this tank divider but in the meantime will be be okay in there with just water and food?
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Post by turtlegirl on Jan 24, 2013 22:04:07 GMT
It depends on time of year and how warm your home is. The tank water should never drop below 20'C and ideally be 22-24. If water is too cold turtles start to go into "hibernation mode" -they slow down and stop eating because they are no longer able to digest food.
Do try to keep them both if you can. It;s obvious that you really love your turtles.A crate can be a good medium to long term home as long as he has
1. water heater
2. basking platform so he can get out of the water
3. basking lamp (clip on spotlight or anglepoise type lamp with spotlight bulb is fine)
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