simonfabris
New Member
I have 2 map turtles,I believe they are both females(but possibly one male/one female) judging by growth rate.
I've had them since they were no bigger than 1.5"/40mm (September 2009) and now the largest of the 2 is pushing 6"/150mm.
Now I've read that once a male turtle reaches sexual maturity that it is known to bite and shove it's tank mate to indicate sexual maturity and they will swim backwards (Maps & Sliders) in-front of the female turtle to initiate mating.
Now the smallest of my 2 again was 1.5"/40mm and is now around 4-4.5"/100mm. Now I am guessing they are both Female based on the growth rate compared to that of the Map turtles my Girlfriends cousin has, she has had them since August 2009, they were approx 1.5"/40mm and are now approx 2.5"/60mm. Also on the location of the anal gland and length of tail.
Now in the last few weeks i've noticed the biggest of the 2 has started biting the smaller one particularly on the lower plastron near the anal gland. This morning she actually bit the smaller ones foot and dragged it off the basking area and into the water? has anybody had experience of this?! any help would be much appreciated!!
I do check my turtles over thoroughly, and both are bright eyed, a healthy weight and are very strong! I am running a basking Heat emitter & a UVb 5+ Exo-terra light for basking, a large canister filter, a smaller internal filter and a large internal UV filter, not to mention I perform a weekly partial water changes and fortnightly full water changes, they have feeder guppies. I also have a baby musk turtle.
I've had them since they were no bigger than 1.5"/40mm (September 2009) and now the largest of the 2 is pushing 6"/150mm.
Now I've read that once a male turtle reaches sexual maturity that it is known to bite and shove it's tank mate to indicate sexual maturity and they will swim backwards (Maps & Sliders) in-front of the female turtle to initiate mating.
Now the smallest of my 2 again was 1.5"/40mm and is now around 4-4.5"/100mm. Now I am guessing they are both Female based on the growth rate compared to that of the Map turtles my Girlfriends cousin has, she has had them since August 2009, they were approx 1.5"/40mm and are now approx 2.5"/60mm. Also on the location of the anal gland and length of tail.
Now in the last few weeks i've noticed the biggest of the 2 has started biting the smaller one particularly on the lower plastron near the anal gland. This morning she actually bit the smaller ones foot and dragged it off the basking area and into the water? has anybody had experience of this?! any help would be much appreciated!!
I do check my turtles over thoroughly, and both are bright eyed, a healthy weight and are very strong! I am running a basking Heat emitter & a UVb 5+ Exo-terra light for basking, a large canister filter, a smaller internal filter and a large internal UV filter, not to mention I perform a weekly partial water changes and fortnightly full water changes, they have feeder guppies. I also have a baby musk turtle.
