pond slider

Question
QUESTION: my turtles have been acting funny lately one is about 3 months old and about 4 inches long and the other is 2 months old and the size of a half dolar they are very sweet to each other the even sleep on top of one another  i dont know what sex they are but they've been putting their front legs in front of their heads in claping them at each other while head to head i did not know if i should be alarmed if they are going to hurt one another and why they are doing this. Should i be alarmed?

ANSWER: Hello Samantha,

Is this behavior seem like they are vibrating their nails in each others faces?

This can be dominant or territorial behavior and is more commonly mating behavior. Males do this to attract a mate.

However because the second turtle is so young I don't see this happening.

It can very well be territorial or dominant behavior. They may both be male and not get along.

To be sure you need to determine the gender. The smaller of the two is too young to be sure but you should be able to tell the gender of the larger one.

Does he/she have long front claws compared to the back claws? Is his/her cloaca (vent or anal opening) located on the tail close to the shell or is it on the tail located more towards the tip of the tial rather then near the shell?

Let me know,
Yexalen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i thank you for your help and they are both males but i got another question should i be worried about them in the same cage they do not fight they get along well exept for the nail thing

Answer
Hi Samantha, If they are both males then yes they do need to be separated. Sorry to break it to you this way. But although you see no fighting currently the nail behavior is a "back off this is my territory" action. And if the other turtle feels that he wants the territory a fight can break out. Even if the turtles have lived together for long periods of time.
When males get agressive over territory (after no results are formed after nail fluttering) one of two things can happen. One gives up and leaves to a new home/pond or they break into battle where neither will stop until the other one is dead.

So the nail fluttering is a warning. If the turtle doesn't leave agression happens. At first they may seem to get along. And nail flutter and leave eachother alone thats because one of them is giving off the body language like "Hey man, I dont want to be any trouble"

But more often in mature males this behavior will start.

So my opinion is to keep them separated. I have never heard of or seen any two males get along when both were larger then 4 inches. Babies get along much better. But after that "sexually mature" age the agression kicks in.

Good luck
Yexalen