General Care Discussion :: WHY won't they share?

[mal]

my two turtles won't share their dock

It's big enough for both of them (you can fit 4 of them their size on it) but they keep pushing each other off. Either one scoots the other one off with their "butt" or kick their hind legs at the one behind. Anyone have experience with this?

they do not bite or act aggressively toward each other at all.

[blackforces get you]

i have the same problem too. they used to share the same basking spot. and then this 1 day, i noticed my smaller one pushed off my male and he fell off.

the solution to this is... might as well get 2 basking docks and let them bask separately i guess

[mal]

based on how our tank is setup, 2 docks will not let BOTH bask adequately. I broke out the small old dock and tried it. why won't they share?

[Azfar]

Just give your turtles some times for them to learn sharing the dock..

I've experienced this situation before, even I have to make 2 resting ramp below the basking area and one at the corner of the tank incase they fighting for the dock..

Now all my turtles share their basking area together and no longer use the resting ramp.. just sometimes when they tired swimming all around..

[TheComputerGremlin]

As long as they are both getting time on, it's fine, it might just be them establishing their hierarchy. If it's consistently one basking and the other getting shoved off, then you need to fix things.

Also, there is no need to get frustrated over the matter. No one on the board will have a magic fix for it, and you are going to be suggested multiple times to get a second basking area. And a second basking area isn't just a second ramp, it is a second basking ramp with a second light setup on the other side of the tank. If your tank is too small to accommodate that, your tank is likely too small for your turtles anyways. The fact of the matter is that the less resources there are, the more likely there will be aggression. So the best option for you right now is to either configure the tank to have two basking areas, or split them up permanently, or wait it out.

[theartbook35]

I wouldn't be that worried. I've never seen or heard of turtles biting other turtles on land/basking areas, so, I don't expect any aggression while they bask. Eventually, your turtles will just learn to bask separately. Even mine have moments where if one goes to bask, the other leaves her alone. Some like to be alone and have space more than others, too.

[Sniffa]

3 of my turtles will share the dock no problem but the other turtle doesn't like going on the dock if the others are there.

[tammi]

Well they might nip at each other. Mine did in the begining and one would run the other off the basking dock every time they were on it together. But now that the pecking order is established they seem to share just fine.

[mikee]

ML – Turtles are reptiles and I don’t think sharing is in their genome structure. Turtles eat, poop and propagate and that is all. Some are more tolerant others. They tolerate each other in a tank and that is why a large tank is better than a smaller one. The basking area may have to be larger or maybe you may have to get two.

[Yashm_Zeytoon]

I am having the same problem. They used to share their basking area but now the bigger one (boy) push the other one (girl) in the water or just won't let her climb up the spot.

I even expand the area but it is not working.

I was thinking of setting up another basking area at the other corner of the tank.

[bigG]

When my female RES was younger and smaller, she shared the dock all the time. Now that she is much larger (7 inches), it is rather hard to fit two on the dock. I have seen them share the dock by just place their front legs on the dock and floating have their bodies in the water. However, they will take turns on the dock.

[Brokensky]

We are currently experiencing the same situation. We can't have two basking spots, because Koopa (turtle) will barely go on...usually will go on with Mertyle (other turtle that keeps pushing him off). We put a giant cork for a basking spot and adding a bit more water. It hasn't fully fixed the situation;however, whenever we monitor the both of them, whenever one pushes the other one off, we put him in the water as well.. so he gets a taste of his own medicine hahaha