Overly amorous

[Hubes]

I've seen the posts about fighting, but I seem to have a different sort of problem. I have a 2.3 colony of Russians, rescues from various places. They are in a large indoor structure (lots of rain and cold in the Pacific Northwest). One of the males does not seem to be fighting - instead he will not stop trying to mount a female substantially bigger than he is (the size discrepancy is such that I don't know if the guy will succeed in his goal at his current size). It looks like the female is not eating and trying to hide as this male keeps pestering her. I have already removed another larger male who was pretty much doing the same thing.

I'm wondering, if the male does eventually succeed in "consummating the relationship," will he then leave her alone? Or, like the male I removed previously, this just will not stop and I need to remove this male as well? What do you Russian breeders do? I am assuming most of you keep them outside and so space isn't an issue and each tortoise can retreat to their own corner.

Thanks for the help.

Hubert

 

[dmmj]

My past experience tells me is no, like most male turtles they are usuaully on 24 love quests.

 

[Yvonne G]

Russian males are VERY aggressive breeders. Since he's gotten the female to be in hiding mode, it might be a good idea to separate your sexes. I have seen females with bitten-off eyelids, missing leg scales and raw patches of skin. When it comes to Russian males, SIZE doesn't matter!!

Yvonne