Does my turtle want to mate?

[Lakposht]

First of all, hello to you and I hope you and your turtle are healthy and happy.
I have a Mauremys caspica tortoise that I have been keeping for nine years. (Its name in Persian: (لاکپشت برکه‌ای خزری)



For about two years, in the months of June and July, it has not been placed in the enclosure (cage) at all and wants to walk. It is restless and walks for about 12 hours a day. It seems that it is looking for something. It does not eat at all. This behavior lasts for about a month and after a month, it returns to normal.

I feel that my tortoise has reached maturity and wants to find another tortoise and mate. Is this true? Or is it just that it wants to have fun and enjoy itself during this season because of the good weather?

For more information:
1- I was not familiar with this site last year. I researched on the internet and saw that it was written that in addition to wanting to mate, if the turtle is female and considering that some female turtles are able to lay eggs even if they do not have a male partner, the turtle may have eggs in its body and this restless walking is because it wants to find a place to excrete the eggs. I went to the vet and through photography I was sure that there were no eggs in its body.
Photo:


2- Around these months when the turtle is restless, once or twice, it also excretes white things along with its feces, which you can see in the link below:

Please help me. White matter in stool

سلام. من یک لاک‌پشت مورمیس کاسپیکا دارم که حدود ۹ ساله ازش نگهداری می‌کنم. لاک‌پشت گاهی اوقات این نوع ماده سفید رو دفع می‌کنه. اما این دفعه یه فرقی داشت و اون این بود که برخلاف دفعه‌های قبل که نرم و آبکی بود، این دفعه سفت و گوشتی بود. این چیه؟ ممنون از راهنماییتون. برای شما و لاک‌پشتتون آرزوی...

tortoiseforum.org

My question is:
Does my turtle really want to mate?

Or is it restless because of problems such as pain and...?

I want to make sure that if my turtle is really healthy and just wants to mate, I can safely release it into the wild.

If any part of the text was unclear, please let me know so I can explain further. Because I used an online translator.
Thank you for any help.
Again, I wish you and your turtle good health and happiness

 

[Tom]

What size is the enclosure? Is there an area where the turtle can climb out, dry off, and bask?

 

[Lakposht]

What size is the enclosure? Is there an area where the turtle can climb out, dry off, and bask?

What size is the enclosure? Is there an area where the turtle can climb out, dry off, and bask?

Hello. Thanks for the reply.
Yes. There is a water and a land (rock) part. But as the turtle has grown, its size has shrunk a bit.
During normal times, it goes into the water to swim and eat, and when it's done, it returns to land.
The turtle can come out of the enclosure whenever it wants.

 

[wellington]

If that is its home, it is way, way, too small. Been way to small for quite awhile now. You need to get him a much, much bigger enclosure asap!

 

[Lakposht]

If that is its home, it is way, way, too small. Been way to small for quite awhile now. You need to get him a much, much bigger enclosure asap!

Hello. Thank you very much for your advice.
Yes, I am definitely considering doing this.
Do you think turtle restlessness is due to his small enclosure and has nothing to do with his desire to mate and find a mate?

 

[wellington]

I think it definitely has to do much more with his enclosure. It does need to be enlarged greatly asap. You will have health problems with him if it's not done very soon.

 

[Tom]

Hello. Thanks for the reply.
Yes. There is a water and a land (rock) part. But as the turtle has grown, its size has shrunk a bit.
During normal times, it goes into the water to swim and eat, and when it's done, it returns to land.
The turtle can come out of the enclosure whenever it wants.
View attachment 401162

Normally turtles of this size are kept in large outdoor ponds. If you want to keep it indoors, it needs a proper set up. The tank needs to be a minimum of around 2 meters long and .5 meters wide. There needs to be a HO UV tube and a basking lamp positioned over the haul out area, and there needs to be a large canister filter, or a filter of some sort running, to circulate and clean the water in-between the frequently needed water changes.

 

[Lakposht]

Normally turtles of this size are kept in large outdoor ponds. If you want to keep it indoors, it needs a proper set up. The tank needs to be a minimum of around 2 meters long and .5 meters wide. There needs to be a HO UV tube and a basking lamp positioned over the haul out area, and there needs to be a large canister filter, or a filter of some sort running, to circulate and clean the water in-between the frequently needed water changes.

Thank you.
Do you also think that the turtle restlessness is due to his small enclosure and has nothing to do with his desire to mate and find a mate?

 

[Tom]

Thank you.
Do you also think that the turtle restlessness is due to his small enclosure and has nothing to do with his desire to mate and find a mate?

No way for us to know that. It could be part of it, or all of it. One thing we've seen with tortoises is that when you let them out to explore the great big world, it makes them restless to stay in their small enclosures. Your turtle should not be roaming free. It's not safe, and it's too dry. Best to have a correctly sized enclosure, and keep the turtle in it.

 

[Lakposht]

Is the turtle exercising? Digging? Masturbating? (The nails didn't get stuck in the carpet)
Video Video 2

 

[Tom]

Is the turtle exercising? Digging? Masturbating? (The nails didn't get stuck in the carpet)
Video Video 2

Looks like it is trying to dig. It should not be out loose on the floor like that. It is not safe and the turtle needs to stay in the water.

 

[Lakposht]

Looks like it is trying to dig. It should not be out loose on the floor like that. It is not safe and the turtle needs to stay in the water.

Thank you. Thank you very much for your help and response.
Because trutle is restless, I put him on the floor. He does not stay in the water (enclosure) at all and tries to get out on his own.
As I said before,my turtle usually stays in its water - dry enclosure most of the normal times.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. Thank you very much for your help and response.
Because trutle is restless, I put him on the floor. He does not stay in the water (enclosure) at all and tries to get out on his own.
As I said before,my turtle usually stays in its water - dry enclosure most of the normal times.

He restless in part because his enclosure is 10 times too small. Get him set up correctly in a big tank with a proper haul out, and he will be less restless.

 

[Lakposht]

He restless in part because his enclosure is 10 times too small. Get him set up correctly in a big tank with a proper haul out, and he will be less restless.

Thank you.
Can I release my turtle into the wild and its habitat?
Or do you recommend that I enlarge its enclosure first?

 

[Lakposht]

Looks like it is trying to dig. It should not be out loose on the floor like that. It is not safe and the turtle needs to stay in the water.

And another question. Why does it dig?

 

[Tom]

Thank you.
Can I release my turtle into the wild and its habitat?
Or do you recommend that I enlarge its enclosure first?

No turtle that has been in captivity should released back to the wild. There are many reasons why not, but a primary reason is that it could have picked up pathogens in its captive environment, even if it is not showing any symptoms, that could decimate the wild populations.

I recommend you make a larger enclosure, set it all up correctly, and keep your turtle.

 

[Tom]

And another question. Why does it dig?

Could be trying to find moisture in a dry environment. Could be looking for food. Could be a female looking for suitable nesting sites. Could be trying to dig down into cooler earth. There are many possible reasons.

 

[Lakposht]

No turtle that has been in captivity should released back to the wild. There are many reasons why not, but a primary reason is that it could have picked up pathogens in its captive environment, even if it is not showing any symptoms, that could decimate the wild populations.

I recommend you make a larger enclosure, set it all up correctly, and keep your turtle.

Thank you very much
I will definitely try to get a bigger enclosure.
I just noticed that the feet and nails are a bit sore due to a lot of digging or walking
I will definitely try to expand the enclosure.

 

[Lakposht]

I think it definitely has to do much more with his enclosure. It does need to be enlarged greatly asap. You will have health problems with him if it's not done very soon.

Thank you very much

 

[Tom]

I just noticed that the feet and nails are a bit sore due to a lot of digging or walking

This is yet another reason to not let him walk around on the floor of your house.