Kinosternon Flavescens

[Kirkie]

Thanks all. Anthropomorphise away. The head rubbing is part of a quite ritualised courtship these turtles seem to have.

Ed,

I keep these turtles mainly aquatic with a land area for most of the year. As I'm trying to breed them I thought it appropriate for them to think it's spring; a time of year they'd be in water for this specific reason.

In the late spring to early autumn they live outdoors in this



And divide their time between land and water based on the weather. Too hot or too cold, they dig underground for long periods.


If you really want to go ahhhhh...
The mothers stay with the eggs when laid, they display parental instincts, rare for a chelonian.

[EJ]

That's interesting and note worthy as to the eggs.

Your outdoor setup is more in line with what I would think for a mud turtle.

[Kirkie]

I'm not sure if any defensive actions by the females have ever been recorded. My guess is that they're just waiting for rain or some other cue to leave the nest site as they lay in pretty barren places. Could get very hot and dry. Apparently their nest digging is similar to the Ornate box turtle with a nest chamber below a self dug hole so they'd be fairly safe there.

[Cherry59]

Awwwwww I saw the tread title and i was like huh? and then i saw the picture. So romantic!