Males biting females…
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Hi all- Just noticed some sores on the hindquarters of my female NDbt. Today, I saw my male NDbt nipping at this area and I believe he is the cause of the wounds. I have had this problem before when I had about 20 juveniles in a tank that was too small, but it was relieved by placing some turtles in another tank. The two turtles in question are in a 55 gallon aqaurium. The plastron of the female is about 6″ long and the plastron of the male is about 4″ long. I don’t think this behavior is a result of overcrowding as it was before. The male has been chasing her around the tank often lately, does anyone else see this behavior around this time of year (maybe mating tendencies)? Any suggestions on how to alleviate the sores? Thanks again! -Joe Chronowski
It sounds like aggression by the male related to mating. I’m not sure if this would be seasonal only in captives kept indoors, or if it might be ongoing now that he has shown aggression. Most dbts seem to co-habitate with no problems, but the ones of either sex that do become aggressive seem to be virtually unstoppable. Another keeper I know has the opposite problem – his female bites the rear feet of his male so badly that he has to keep them in separate tanks and supervise their visits. Not to sound too negative, but I have found that any skin wound on a dbt tends to attract further biting of that wound area, even after it appears healed, from other dbts, sometimes even from otherwise non-aggressive ones. I would recommend keeping a really close watch on your female and consider separating the pair if she needs time alone to heal. ToddJoe
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