Title: Red Eared Slider Biting
Description: biting
Betty - July 21, 2005 03:34 AM (GMT)
I have two red eared sliders and the larger one about 8 inches keeps chasing and biting at the back leg and shell of the smaller one which is about 6 inches. The smaller turtle has taken to hiding in the skimmer of our pond. Is this a mating thing or is the large one being mean?
Thanks for any info
Tommy - July 21, 2005 12:21 PM (GMT)
they might be mating. How big is your pond?
Robyn - July 21, 2005 04:30 PM (GMT)
Female red-eared sliders are bigger than males. You have a big turtle chasing a smaller one. So, it's hard to say which sexes the turtles are with no more information. If you look at their front fingernails, are they both short, both long, or one is short and one is long? The long nailed turtle(s) is(are) the male(s). Males may chase females or other males. Females may also chase off other turtles to get them out of their territory. So, it could be about sex or territory. At 8", that bigger turtle is most likely female. Tell us what you can tell from their front nails.
Guest - July 22, 2005 04:48 AM (GMT)
The bigger one has the longer front and back nails and has a longer tail. The smaller one has shorter nails and tail. Our pond is about 1700 gal. We have several large koi and now a few babies. The smaller turtle runs from the big one and then hides out in the skimmer, but I have watched and the smaller one will go right up to the larger one and wait until the larger one see it and then it runs. I have check out the smaller one and there is no sign of it being hurt, so I am hoping its just a mating thing. Thanks for your help.
Tommy - July 22, 2005 12:36 PM (GMT)
It sounds like they are mating but im worried about the hiding thing.
Robyn - July 23, 2005 01:47 AM (GMT)
So, you have a big male and a smaller female. She must be younger. Hopefully, he won't pester her too much. She may not be up for his advances. As long as he's not hurting her, it's fine.
Guest - July 23, 2005 04:06 AM (GMT)
Thank you for your help. They were at it again today, and this evening she was back in the skimmer. I pulled them both out tonight and measured them. Larger one is 9 1/2 in., and smaller one was just about 8 in. I have had them both for about 4 yrs and I have never noticed this with them before. Well, I will keep my eye on them, and again, thanks for your replies. ;)