Other Turtle Discussion :: She's acting like a boy...?

[KnTucker]

My was named Tucker when she was tiny. Then after about 19 years of being in a 20 gallon tank, she finally was given to me. I've upgraded her tank etc. Anyways, the original owner realized that *he* was really a *she* because of her small claws.

Now she's only 7.5 inches long and I've read that she should be bigger! I was thinking well maybe that's because she was in a small tank for so long?? Also she must have had a lack of UVB for a long time too due to some pyramiding...

Anyways, I put something mirrorlike in the water and immediately she starts doing the waving claws mating dance. Isn't that what boys do? She kept doing it for like 20 minutes, so I just removed it!

[Diamondbacks4Life]

Nope, waving the claws is also used as the dominance dance in both males and females. So seeing another turtle in this case herself she was just trying to show this new turtle she is the boss of the tank.

[sflemin2]

Both of my females do it. Do you have a picture?

[KnTucker]

Ok thanks! Haha... I was very confused there for a moment! ...I don't have a pic of her doing that. Someday I might try and tape her doing it. So cute...

[theartbook35]

Reptiles do not become tank bound. No matter how small of a tank you put them in, they will keep on growing.

On rare occasions females won't get bigger than 7.5 inches. She definitely won't grow anymore, she's way to old now.

The growth rates that they explain on this website are only estimates, growth is different for every single turtle. Just like how all women go through menopause in different ways. Two of my turtles get the same diet and live in the same tank together and they don't shed at the same time, and they don't grow at the same time, either. They are most likely the same age too, and Ty is actually quite a bit bigger and gurthier than Cane.