Schoolyard fight!

[jeff kushner]

I found another box turtle in the yard this morning. Another male but I put him in with Big Matt for a few minutes.

It did not take 2min for Matt to go ape on the new guy and after climbing right into the new guys face, he set to RAM!

This is where Big Matt learned the physics lesson I have been teaching for 52 years.....size matters.

In 15 seconds the tables were turned and new guy was using his size to dominate...ramming 2 or 3 times before I cut that action short and set new guy free in the yard where I found him.


Then I spent some time with Matt to let him calm. It was the first time Matt ever saw another turtle!

 

[jeff kushner]

As soon as I posted the above, I looked out the window and found this guy in the yard too!

Very different looking from "newguy" this morning and smaller.

Two box turtles in the front yard this morning, I love the Nook!

 

[Maro2Bear]

Nice, that you are in a good turtle area! Careful on introducing a wild one in with your boy. Lots of nasties out there In the wild.

 

[wellington]

Why would you do that, knowing they were going to fight anyway? I don't see the point!

 

[jeff kushner]

Matt has never seen another turtle....as he likely would in nature....i was curious, as was he apparently.

Matt does not like to share space with anyone! LOL He chased the second guy out of the pool and around his enclosure until i stopped it. I let him go after he calmed a bit. I don't want to traumatize the local box turtles!

I have kept many in a colony before and they did not bother eachother....Matt is just picky about roommates.

Don't be mad at me .. I'm just a kid with wrinkles and grey hair

 

[Ink]

I would be to afraid of my turtle getting a disease from the wild turtle. I'm glad no turtle got hurt.

 

[Len B]

If you had put the second turtle in with Matt the results may have been different. By the shell shape it looks to be a female and possibly trolling for a little affection.

 

[ryan57]

This summer we're turtle sitting Quincy. He's about 60 years old and has been in Kathleen's family since hurricane Agnes in 1972. He was in a bad way after the storm and then wouldn't leave their back yard so it became a 10 year old girl's pet turtle. Well, the grandmother that kept it died and the 10 year old is now 55 and lives in New Mexico so my wife Kathleen's daughter keeps him now in Hershey PA. He has enjoyed all the time outside this year and takes dips in the 2500 gallon Koi pond. When we're sitting we call this place Camp Quincy.

Stump (2yrs 5mo) is not a fan of Figgy (1yr old almost 2lb sulcata) or Quincy and the grass around their fence is neatly trimmed by him. LOL! So courteous. It's hilarious though because Quincy has gone up to Stump at his food dish and he backed up. He's must be one of those steering wheel tough guys.

s another

 

[jeff kushner]

See.....Quincy knows....fighting in traffic only makes you look like an idiot,
and size matters! LOL

The vid is of the 2nd found turtle. "Newguy" was the first pics. I saw the same thing Len and held out hope that it was female....but nope, they immediately went at it with intimidation and ramming. Prob way too small an enclosure to think they might get along......but after watching Matt molest that second one, there won't be any doubt what will happen if a female is placed in there with him. I'm beginning to feel like an enabler....LOL