Hind Feet Biting
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My macro dbt hatchlings have been biting each other’s hind feet. I know that this discussion has come up before. The weakest one, the smallest one, the least aggressive one, the one with the most damage to his hind feet, was swimming with his hind feet retracted so as to prevent another painful hit. So I separated the weakest one from the other two. I am also washing the damaged hind feet with betadine. He is eating okay and swimming okay now. I was wondering if this separation must be permanent? Or will they grow out of this habit when they are all about the same adult size (the biggest hatchling is doing the most damage to the other’s feet)? Or is it permanent because of a mean streak disposition? Will new feet tissue grow back? I didn’t have this problem with my northern hatchlings so I am clueless. Bob
— In diamondbackterrapins@y…, irnbru@e… wrote: one feet was out biggest tissue My female won’t leave my male alone. She nipped at him constantly. I have to keep them separated. As far as tissue growing back, Are you asking about chunks being bitten out of the webbed portion? If so,I don’t think it will grow back. If skin is ripped off, it should re-generate. The markings won’t. You’ll see a scar. That’s my opinion, JC
— In diamondbackterrapins@y…, irnbru@e… wrote: Bob, have you tried putting some plastic plants in your aquarium to divide them up? The separation may or may not have to be permanent, but I would definitely wait until the sizes are a little more compatible before attempting to make them cohabit again. It definitely could be territorial behavior that won’t go away with age. It probably depends on the extent of tissue damage – my Chesapeake female is missing a toe and has a hole in the webbed area of her hind foot… -Chun
Thanks, There is both problems – a chunk bitten out and some skin ripped off – on both feet. Where the skin is ripped of it is brownish there. One of the four claws is difficult to see anymore – it may still be there. Bob — In diamondbackterrapins@y…, “J. C. Born”
Chun, I haven’t tried the plastic plants and not sure how that could be fashioned to make a complete separation barrier. At the moment I am keeping the smallest in a separate litter box. It sounds like there is some permanent damage where a chunk is missing below the last claw. Where there is brown tissue I will wait and see if tissue grows back. Thanks, Bob — In diamondbackterrapins@y…, “Chun-Ming Chew”
I had a small dbt that kept getting it’s feet chomped on. I would remove it to another tank until the feet completely healed and then I put it back in with the others. It was as if the little guys feet put off a scent or something because the others would zero right in on them and start biting again. I had to keep it separate after that. Vic
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