Red-eared turtle: how to find out the sex at home, distinguish a female from a male

This question worries many who have decided to have an animal at home, but simply answering it is not so easy.
To determine the sex of a red-eared slider, you need to wait until it reaches a certain age, when a number of signs begin to indicate its gender. Having reached the age of 6-8 years, the red-eared slider is ready to breed. It is during this period that it is easiest to determine their sex, but already at 1.5-2 years, after analyzing all the combined characteristics, you can try to determine the sex of the red-eared slider. In order to determine gender, you should pay attention to the following features that can distinguish a boy turtle from a girl turtle.

A set of accessories for an aquarium for a turtle

To ensure a comfortable stay for your turtle in the aquarium, you need to buy the following accessories:

the aquarium itself (with a volume of at least 200 liters);
water heater (rated at 100 watts);
external filter;
a special UV lamp for aquatic pets;
heating lamp;
small thermometer;
lamp;
artificially created island or shore.

Aquarium

After looking at your little miracle and reading our article, you will decide that we were mistaken in the recommended aquarium volumes. Two hundred liters, and this little cutie? No, the requirements are not excessive. The turtle will have to grow and grow - and you won’t have to buy it a new aquarium in a year. The information that if you keep your pet in a small container, you can maintain its miniature size is an outright lie. The animal will grow, one way or another, but it will be sick and crooked.

artificial island

Be sure to provide for the presence of an artificial island or shore. This is where your turtle will regularly crawl (mount it so that it is slightly submerged in water). The surface of the land area should be textured, the rise should be sloping, without sharp corners. Contains only non-toxic materials. The island should occupy at least one fourth of the entire aquarium. Additionally, heating is required so that the temperature on the shore exceeds the water temperature by 10 degrees. It is better not to install the island next to the wall of the terrarium (the pet may get stuck in the crack and get hurt).

Aquarium soil

If you live in the spirit of minimalism, then soil, like other decorative elements, is not necessary. But it significantly enlivens the environment of the red-eared home. Gravel is not suitable (animals can swallow it and die). It is better to use large stones: it is both safe and easier to care for the aquarium.

Heat lamp and thermometer

It’s natural for turtles to go ashore to bask. They need this at home throughout the day. Having purchased a lamp, place it in the center of the island at a distance of 20-40 cm from the reptiles

Attention: close proximity of the lamp can lead to burns to your pet! Place water protection on the surface of the device (when immersed, turtles splash, which can cause an electrical short). Be sure to monitor the temperature data

Aquarium water

Red-eared turtles are aquatic, which means they spend most of their lives in water. The quality of the liquid must be appropriate (they also eat, sleep and go to the toilet in water). As a caring owner, install powerful filters and change the water frequently. The minimum possible level of liquid in the aquarium is determined by the pet’s ability to easily turn over from the “on its back” to the “on its belly” position.

Water changes are carried out 1-2 times a week. A new portion of liquid must first (one day before) settle in an open container so that the chlorine is removed from the water and it becomes room temperature. The optimal water temperature for red-eared turtles in an aquarium is 22-28 degrees.

Water temperatures above 28 degrees and below 20 degrees are harmful to the health of red-eared fish.

What to feed your reptile at home

To begin with, it is worth determining which of the three categories the turtle belongs to by type of nutrition, distinguishing it in order to understand what ratio of plant and animal food the animal should receive and what to feed it. List:

To properly feed turtles, you need to study what they eat in nature.

Predatory

80% plant and 20% animal.

Main food: lean fish, beef or chicken liver (once a week), seafood and small mammals.
Additional: dry food, insects, shellfish, amphibians and invertebrates.
Prohibited: meat, fatty fish, milk, cheese, bread, fruit, dog or cat food.

Omnivores

50% plant and 50% animal. Everyone loves to eat.

Main food: for aquatic animals – fish, seafood and algae; for land animals - mice, fruits, vegetables and land plants.

How to take care of turtle eggs

Laying turtle eggs

Like other reptiles, turtles, after laying eggs, forget about their offspring, and if the little turtles were not born completely independent, they would have had a hard time. Therefore, you will have to take care of turtle eggs. Remove them from the container and place them in an incubator, the temperature of which must be set at 28-30 degrees.

Therefore, place them in the incubator carefully and in the order in which they were in the nest container (you can even label them with a marker). If you do not have a special incubator, you can use an ordinary glass jar or other glass container, which you fill with sand and moisten it regularly

Such a homemade incubator can be heated using an incandescent lamp or by installing it next to central heating radiators

If you do not have a special incubator, you can use an ordinary glass jar or other glass container, which you fill with sand and moisten it regularly. Such a homemade incubator can be heated using an incandescent lamp or by installing it next to central heating radiators.

How to tell if turtle eggs are fertilized

Unfortunately, even if a turtle has laid eggs, this does not mean that they are fertilized and small turtles can be born from them. To prevent you from heating empty eggs in an incubator for several months, you can check whether there is life in them.

To do this, build a primitive ovoscope device for yourself - place a small electric lamp in a small cardboard box (you can use a light bulb from a flashlight), and cover the top of the box with a lid in which a hole will be cut, reminiscent in shape of an egg, but smaller, than the size of turtle eggs. After this, to check the egg, place it on the lid above the hole and turn on the light bulb. There is no need to turn the egg. If the egg is fertilized, then there will be a noticeable darkening in its center, but if the egg is empty, it will transmit light evenly. By the way, the longer the egg ripening period, the more accurate the result of such studies. Empty eggs do not need to be heated, but fertilized eggs must be carefully placed back into the incubator.

Reproduction

The breeding season for red-eared turtles that live in the Southern Hemisphere is from September to December, and those that live in the Northern Hemisphere is from April to June. As a rule, mating occurs under water. They build their cozy nests on the sand near the water, in places shaded by plants, so as not to overheat. Male pet turtles reach sexual maturity at 4 years, females at 6 years. The mating period at home is from February to May. After mating, the female comes to land to lay eggs.

Therefore, it is very important for these animals to create appropriate conditions in captivity. Small turtles are born after 105-150 days; the ambient temperature should not fall below 21 degrees. The length of the cubs is 3 cm

The length of the cubs is 3 cm.

Offspring are born during the rainy season, which lasts from September to December in areas north of the equator, and in June in areas south of the equator.

Interesting: What causes a snail's shell to crack?

Second way

The reptile's shell represents its unique passport, provided that it was provided with good care, properly fed and provided with enough living space.

In this case, the concentric rings on the carapace will indicate a certain number of years she has lived. These rings first appear on the turtle’s shell when it reaches one year of age, and for the first two years of its life, the grooves of the rings are marked quite dynamically, adding two or three every six months.

To do this most accurately, you need to count the number of rings in different parts of the carapace and display the average result.

How to determine the sex of a land turtle

Often the gender of the pet is decisive when purchasing it. But if determining the sex of a dog or cat is not particularly difficult even for non-professionals, then determining the sex of a land turtle is much more difficult.

Knowledge about the specific sex of a land turtle can be useful if the owner plans to breed them, and simply when choosing a nickname and selecting the placement of individual individuals.

The sex of a land turtle can be determined with great accuracy when the individual is already at sexual maturity. This is approximately 1.5-2 years. Gender can be determined by certain external characteristics.

turtle claws

If you carefully examine the paws of a reptile, you can see the difference between male and female individuals. Males have much stronger, thicker and longer claws than females. This is due to the need to fixate their body during the mating period. Females have small and blunt claws.

However, the length of the claws is not a 100% indicator for determining the sex of a land turtle. A reptile's claws can wear down throughout its life. It depends on the conditions in which the turtle lives and what kind of covering is in the aquarium, as well as the duration of its stay on land.

Sex determination by shell

Another way to determine the sex of a land turtle is by examining its shell - the plastron. If the turtle has a concave plastron, as well as prominent skin growths on the thighs, the so-called femoral spurs, then it is a male. He needs these skin growths to stay on the female during mating.

The female is characterized by a flat shell. In all female individuals, the concavity is almost invisible or completely absent. The male can be identified by its concave abdomen, and the female by its flat or slightly convex abdomen.

Examination of the back of the shell will also help determine the sex of the pet. The male's carapace in the tail area is strongly curved towards the ground. The shell completely covers its tail. Females have a small tail and are completely visible from under the shell.

In addition, the shells of male and female turtles differ in shape. In males, the shell has an oblong shape. In females, on the contrary, the shell is wider and rounder.

Turtle tail

In males, the genital organ is located in the tail. The shape of their tail has some peculiarity. It is quite long and widens at its base. Females, on the contrary, have a thin and short tail.

Shape of the cloaca in turtles

The shape of its cloaca will tell you about the sex of a land turtle. Female turtles have a cloaca that is shaped like a star. It is located almost on the edge of its shell. In males, on the contrary, the cloaca is located at some distance from the shell and has the appearance of a longitudinal strip.

Other sexual characteristics in turtles

The sex of a land turtle can be determined by its size. In order for females to bear healthy offspring, nature created them to be larger. The difference in size between a male and a female is especially noticeable if several individuals live in the aquarium at the same time.

You can determine the sex of turtles by the color of their eyes. Most often, females have yellow eyes, and males have brown eyes.

You can also determine the sex of reptiles by their behavior. The difference is especially visible during the mating season. It is by behavior that you can find out as accurately as possible where the turtle is female and where it is male.

Male turtles demonstrate all their advantages in front of females. It's like a kind of dance. The males begin to swing their front legs, intensively move their heads from top to bottom, actively move their tails and make attempts to climb onto the females.

When fighting, males turn over on their backs and strike each other with their clawed paws. This behavior is not typical for females. Females are always calm and leisurely, even during the mating season.

For each species of land turtles, and there are more than a dozen of them, in addition to the general signs of sex determination, there are individual characteristics that are characteristic only for it. This could be the color of the eyes, nose, or the special shape of the tail. Only a specialist can determine gender based on such characteristics.

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Differences between a male and a female

Size. This method is only suitable if there are 2 turtles of the same age, for example from the same offspring. Gender can be determined by their size. The female will be larger than the male. This is due to the fact that the female needs to bear and lay eggs. Shell. To determine sex by the shape of the shell, the turtle must be turned belly up. In males, the lower part is long and elongated, shaped like a V at the tail. The plastron (the abdominal shield of the shell) will be slightly concave. This shape helps the males stay on the female’s shell at the time of fertilization. Females have a wide plastron with a smooth surface. Claws. The male's claws are long and sharp. He needs this feature in order to stay on the female’s shell at the time of fertilization. But it is worth considering the conditions of keeping turtles. It is necessary to install an island in the terrarium where turtles can crawl out and bask under the lamp.

You need to pay attention to the material from which the dry land is made, as turtles quickly wear down their claws on it. Females will have blunt and short claws, since they don’t need such a length.

Males will also have more pronounced femoral spurs on their paws and will have small scales on their hind paws. Red stripe on the head. The red-eared turtle has a red stripe on its head. In males it is much brighter and clearer than in females. Tail. The tail can be used to determine sex even if there is no second individual for comparison. In males, the tail is long and wide, since it houses the genital organ. In females, the tail is short and even, without thickening at the base. Hole. The female has a hole in the tail area through which she lays eggs. Accordingly, males do not have such a hole. Cloaca. The older the turtle, the more accurately the sex can be determined by the location of the cloaca. In females, the cloaca is located close to the shell, almost at the very base, and has the shape of an asterisk. In males, the cloaca is located at a considerable distance from the shell, almost at the edge of the tail, and looks like a transverse line. The older the turtle, the longer the tail on which the cloaca is located, and accordingly, the more accurate the result will be. Muzzle. The most inaccurate way to determine sex, which you shouldn’t rely too much on, since all turtles are individual and have their own characteristics. It should only be taken into account in conjunction with other characteristics. Males have a muzzle that is more elongated and pointed at the end; females have a wide, rounded muzzle. Mating season. Red-eared turtles live on average 20-25 years at home. Males become sexually mature at the age of 4-5 years, and females are ready to breed somewhat later, at the age of 5-6 years. During the mating season, gender can be determined most accurately. The behavior of males and females is significantly different. The activity of males increases significantly, they begin to attract females to mate. Males chase females, waving their paws with long claws, nod their heads in a funny way, and may lightly bite the female on the neck. Behavior. To determine the sex of a turtle by its behavior at normal times, you need to observe it for several days in a calm environment. Males are somewhat more active. They often swim and often crawl onto land to bask. Females sit on land for a long time or swim for a long time. Males also behave more aggressively and can bite. Females bite only in exceptional cases.

To most accurately determine the sex of a red-eared turtle, you need to wait until it becomes sexually mature. Then the differences between the male and the female will be clearly expressed. If the turtle is less than 5 years old, and there are plans to breed turtles in the future, then it is better to seek the help of a specialist.

If the sex is determined incorrectly, and therefore the pair is incorrectly selected, the owner will have to support two same-sex individuals. And if the females are more relaxed about the second individual in the terrarium, then the two males will share the territory and may injure each other.

It doesn’t matter what gender or age the red-eared turtle will be. The main thing is to provide the turtle with comfortable living conditions and prepare the correct diet.

Only in this case will the red-eared turtle be active and healthy, and live as long as possible.

How to determine the sex of a red-eared turtle

It is possible to distinguish the sex of red-eared turtles by external characteristics that are present in each individual of this species. The main differences in the gender of animals:

Differences in shell color.
Tail type and size.
The color of a reptile's nose.
The size of the animal's shell.
Location of the cloaca.
Head.

Claw length

The claws on the hind legs are dull in both animals. The male's is longer and sharper.

Males use their claws to secure themselves to their partners' shells during breeding.

This method does not reliably help to find out the sex, because in young reptiles the claws are not fully formed, and a mature animal wears off its manicure on hard ground.

Paws

Male reptiles have femoral spurs on their paws and small scales on their hind limbs.

Features of the shell

To determine the sex of a red-eared slider, look at the ventral part of the shell (plastron). In males it is concave, in females it is not.

The protective element of turtles of different sexes is different. The shell of males is long, in the tail part it forms the Latin letter V. In females, the shell is rounded and large, for bearing eggs. A special hole at the end is for storing.

Males have fewer female companions. There are some exceptions.

In female individuals the color of the plastron is different, in males it is blue.

Tail and cloaca

The most reliable factor in determining gender. In males, the process at the back of the body is long, and the base and tip are wide. Females are characterized by the presence of a short tail uniform in length.

The female's cloaca is located closer to the base of the tail and resembles an asterisk. The reptile's anus is wide for laying eggs. The male's cloaca looks more like a longitudinal line, which is located in the back, closer to the tip of the process.

By behavior

The female has a calm character. She rarely moves unless necessary.

Males, on the contrary, are aggressive. When breeding, they chase the female

They try to attract attention by biting the female on the neck, and also nod often

Other signs

Each type of reptile has a special iris color. Aquatic turtles of different sexes have different eye colors.

The female individual has a yellow nose. For men it is pointed and small.

The male's head is larger with a longitudinal stripe of a reddish hue, which during reproduction takes on a rich, bright color. The upper jaw is whitish in color.

A rare method is a blood test and x-rays. It is pointless to use the method before the age of seven. Males have not yet formed testes, and females have ovaries. Upon reaching puberty, a boy is identified by a blood test that shows elevated levels of testosterone. Ultrasound helps to identify a female individual during the formation of follicles.

Sex can be recognized after puberty.
A reliable option would be to make comparisons across multiple animals. Sometimes some signs are similar in turtles of different sexes. It is better to check pets based on several factors.
Living conditions in animals sometimes cause hormonal imbalance. Then only a veterinarian can determine the sex.

Finding out the sex of the turtle may be necessary in order to plan the breeding of these exotic animals. When buying a turtle in a pet store, sales consultants will probably tell you its gender. But having received a turtle as a gift or purchased it at the market, the gender may be unknown. There are several well-known rules by which you can determine which individual has become your new friend.

Should you pick up a turtle?

Let us remind you that red-eared turtles live at home in an aquarium. When removing an animal from the water, be prepared for it to be slippery. But this is not the main difficulty. The yellow-bellied creature is 100% likely to resist such contact. The turtle will begin to hiss, scratch you with powerful paws with sharp claws, bite, and it is possible that he will attempt to empty his bowels directly into your palm.

So in theory, you can pick up your pet, but is there a need for this tactile contact? If touching cannot be avoided, take the animal with both hands, fix it carefully but firmly, then the turtle will not slip out and you will not be bitten.

After contact, be sure to wash your hands with soap. Make sure that children do this especially. Explain to kids that affection with red-eared cats is unacceptable: these creatures, cute at first glance, can be dangerous, because carry salmonellosis. For this reason, animals should not wander around the kitchen and, especially, the dining table. You should also avoid washing your pet or its aquarium and accessories in the kitchen sink or bathtub.

Features of behavior of both sexes

During the mating season, males become more active. During this period, the following ways of attracting a female will be noticeable in their behavior:

they can organize all sorts of demonstration performances, the purpose of which is to attract increased attention;
they can swing their legs wildly and show their claws;
constant persecution of females;
may exhibit attractive head movements.

But the females behave calmly and measuredly. They do not show any attention to the pet and do not make advances towards them. But this is not necessary, because the male himself will do everything to get her. But these actions usually continue until a certain period, and then the activity of the males decreases.

If you are still unable to determine the sex of your red-eared slider, you must first select one turtle. When she grows up a little, you will be able to clearly verify the truth of her gender. After some time, you will be able to understand the behavior of turtles and relate it to a specific sex. But for such an analysis you need to have sufficient experience in breeding turtles of both sexes. You can observe their behavior in the pet store.

Many experienced amateur naturalists have come to the conclusion that females are the calmest. The fact is that the boys are very active, moving around their property and tasting everything that comes their way. Their interest in their chosen one is clearly manifested.

Owners of red-eared turtles may witness the male trying to catch up with the female and bite her on the neck. Experts say males give themselves away

Another sign for determining the sex of a turtle can be the shape of its muzzle. But this sign is very controversial and cannot be the main one, since it has no basis in confirmation by zoologists. Males have a more pointed muzzle than females - this is a distinctive feature of this method.

Features of behavior

Difficulties in determining it are explained by the fact that a turtle is a reptile without clearly defined features that determine whether it belongs to a male or female organism. Sexual maturity is achieved faster in captivity, so it is possible to determine who the individual is after reaching 2-5 years, when the shell grows to 10 cm. In the wild, this is possible after 6-8 years.

There are alternative verification methods that are not widely used:

ultrasonography;
blood test for hormones;
radiography.

Ultrasound is applicable to adult turtles when the specialist is able to distinguish the ovaries from the testes. Blood testing is relevant in relation to sexually mature individuals, taking into account testosterone fluctuations during the mating season. Radiation diagnostics allows you to check the presence of individual parts of the hemipenis.

All small reptiles look like females before puberty. In adult turtles, differences can be distinguished in the skin, claws, head size, shell shape and other parts of the body.

To understand what sex a turtle is, just look at its behavior during the mating season. This method will be effective only when keeping two or more individuals.

During the mating period, the male is more active than at other times; he tries in every way to attract the attention of the female. You can often observe how the male literally chases the female, biting her on the neck

At any period, the female has a calmer behavior than the male turtle. Her movements are measured even during the mating season, while the behavioral characteristic of the male is often clearly expressed aggression. According to experienced breeders, a male can also be distinguished by active head nodding.

Determining the sex of a red-eared turtle can be difficult due to incorrect housing conditions, which can cause severe hormonal imbalances. In this case, only a veterinarian will help you find out the sex of the reptile after examining the animal. The most reliable way to determine the sex of a turtle is to visually compare several individuals at once.

You can easily distinguish males by their behavior. Boys are more active and curious, they constantly move, try out all available objects, and pester girls. This is manifested by the fact that the male catches up with the possible partner he likes and tries to lightly bite her neck. The suitor invites the female to mate by fluttering his claws right in front of the female’s eyes.

In addition, “men” compete with each other, trying to drive the rival away from their territory or from the female. It almost never comes to a serious fight, but males can push and bite for a long time until one of them retreats, leaving the battlefield to a more successful competitor.

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In other languages:

English: Tell If a Turtle Is Male or Female, Español: saber si una tortuga es hembra o macho, Deutsch: Das Geschlecht einer Schildkröte bestimmen, Português: Saber Se uma Tartaruga É Macho ou Fêmea, Italiano: Capire se una Tartaruga è Maschio o Femmina, Français: déterminer le sexe de votre tortue, 中文: 区分乌龟的性别, Nederlands: Het geslacht van een schildpad vaststellen, 日本語: カメの性別を見分ける, : Čeština: Jak poznat, zda je želva samec či samice, Bahasa Indonesia: Membedakan Jenis Kelamin Kura Kura, Tiếng Việt: Nhận biết Rùa Đực và Rùa Cái, Türkçe: Bir Kaplumbağanın Erkek Veya Dişi Olduğu Nasıl Anlaşılır

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How to find out the gender of a rubella turtle by its behavior

There are different ways to determine who is who among the red-eared turtles, but it is best to take into account all the signs together to avoid mistakes. For example, male turtles reach sexual maturity a year and a half earlier, the size of the animal also depends on age, and the claws of male terrarium turtles sometimes wear off and may well be shorter than the claws of the female.

If it appears in the house, of course, the new owners usually find out first of all. Determining the sex of these animals is not such an important task, but it will not be superfluous, for example, in order to adequately perceive the corresponding physiological changes in the reptile, and simply to give the pet the correct name.

Usually the question of how to determine age and sex arises when you want to purchase a pair for an existing individual and try to get offspring, because you need to select a turtle not only already capable of reproduction, but also of the opposite sex.

How to find out the age of a red-eared slider?

It can be much easier during an external examination than to decide the question of her gender. Sex determination usually occurs by the shell. There are two main ways to determine the age of a red-eared turtle by its shell. The first is based on counting the concentric rings that form as the animal grows (this is similar to determining the age of a tree by cutting the trunk). Typically 1-2 concentric rings correspond to one year of a turtle's life. In addition, as they grow, the color of the shell becomes less bright, and the red spots on the head also fade.

The second way to determine the age of the shell is related to the analysis of its size. There are average growth rates for a turtle and at 1 year the length of the shell is approximately 6 cm, at 2 years - 9 cm for a female and 8 cm for a male, at 3 years - 14 and 10 cm, respectively, at 4 years - 16 and 12 cm, at 5 years old - 18 and 14 cm, at 6 years old - 20 and 17 cm (age 5–6 years is optimal for starting reproduction). On average, red-eared turtles live 30–35 years, and their maximum size reaches 30 cm.

How to determine the sex of a red-eared slider?

There are three main ways to determine the sex of a red-eared slider: by the shell, by the tail, and by the claws. How to determine the sex of a red-eared turtle by its shell depends on analyzing the shape of its lower back part. In the male it has a concave appearance, since it is this shape that facilitates mating, while the female has a more rounded and flatter end of the armor.

Determining sex by the tail is one of the most accurate. It is believed that in males the tail is thicker at the base, and sharply narrows towards the tip and ends with a pointed corner. The female's tail is more uniform in thickness and has a flatter and more rounded tip.

You can also judge the sex of a red-eared slider based on the shape of its claws. The male usually has very long and pointed at the ends, as well as curved claws, while the female is content with shorter, rounded nails. However, this last sign can let down inexperienced breeders, since in the conditions of life in an aquarium, the claws of both males and females can easily grind off on stones and recognizing the sex of the animal will not be so easy.

Having reached the age of 6-8 years, the red-eared slider is ready to breed. It is during this period that it is easiest to determine their sex, but already at 1.5-2 years, after analyzing all the combined characteristics, you can try to determine the sex of the red-eared turtle

In order to determine gender, you should pay attention to the following features that can distinguish a boy turtle from a girl turtle

Male red-eared sliders have longer claws on their front feet than females. The male needs this in order to hold onto the female’s shell more firmly at the time of fertilization. Females have slightly shorter claws, but they are more blunt.

This method is quite simple, but can be misleading in the process of keeping them in captivity. Spending a lot of time on the island, the turtle can wear its claws. Here everything will depend on what material the sushi element is made of.

What conditions should be created for a pair of turtles?

Thus, we found out how to determine the sex and age of red-eared turtles. Selecting an adult male and female for keeping at home will not be difficult. But getting offspring from red eareds in captivity, even if the aquarium contains guaranteed individuals of different sexes, will still be quite problematic. These turtles lay their eggs not in water, but on land, burying them in the sand.

But be that as it may, the conditions for a couple of turtles in the aquarium, of course, should be created decent. In this case, a container for keeping reptiles should be purchased with a volume of at least 150 liters. For each turtle, you need to provide its own raft with suction cups and a stand. An incandescent lamp and a UV lamp should be placed above the rafts to create a comfortable temperature.

If the owners of turtles still expect to get offspring, in the aquarium, among other things, they will need to place a cuvette with sand or peat. Such a container should be installed so that the female can easily climb into it. Layed red ear eggs can then be incubated in a regular chicken apparatus at a temperature of 22-30 °C.

- These are terrarium pets that do not require complex knowledge in care and maintenance at home. But the difficult part is determining the sex of the red-eared turtle, because you need to make sure that it is a boy and a girl.

At an early age, it is difficult to determine the female. Red-eared turtles reach maturity only at 7–8 years after birth, when characteristic signs begin to clearly appear and it becomes easier to determine the sex of the baby.

Determining the sex of the red ear by external signs

When carefully studying the turtle, pay special attention to the main characteristic features. Tail

This is the most common criterion among breeders. If you take two turtles and compare their appendages at the rear end of the body, the one with it longer, wider at the base and narrower towards the tip is the male. And the individual with a shorter tail, uniform in thickness and rounded, is a female

Tail. This is the most common criterion among breeders. If you take two turtles and compare their appendages at the rear end of the body, the one with it longer, wider at the base and narrower towards the tip is the male. And the individual with a shorter tail, uniform in thickness and rounded, is a female.

Plastron shape. Inside this formation, in the lower part of the abdominal shield, the genitals are located. In females, the back of the shell has a smooth surface. But in males it is modified and slightly concave. Thanks to this feature, the covaler can fixate on the female at the time of mating.

Claws. The indicator is their shape and length. If the claws are short and pointed, then this is a female, and if they are long and curved, then it is a male. However, when determining sex by claws, you can make a big mistake, especially with turtles that are too young or old. The claws of the former may not yet be fully formed, while the claws of the latter may have already rubbed off on the ground.

Additional characteristic features.

Body dimensions. Females are always larger than males because they have to carry the eggs.
Shell shape. In males it is narrower and longer, while in females it is rounded and short.
Shape of the posterior end of the plastron. In males it is V-shaped and pointed. In females, on the contrary, it is rounded.
Anal hole. The female's cloaca is star-shaped and located at the base of the tail. The male's anus looks more like a longitudinal line and is shifted towards the end of the tail.
Muzzle shape. This sign is very controversial and has not been fully confirmed by zoologists. However, it is believed that males have a narrower muzzle than females.

Determination of gender

Having bought a funny turtle, many owners think about breeding offspring, and, as a rule, about acquiring a sexual partner for their pet. However, before getting a second animal, you must accurately determine the sex of the red-eared slider, and this is not an easy question.

The easiest way to find out the gender of a pet is at 6–8 years of age, when the turtle shows characteristic signs. However, if you carefully analyze the behavior and appearance, you can determine the sex of the turtle at one or two years.

Red-eared slider - how to determine gender:

The first way to determine sex is to compare the length and shape of the claws of male and female individuals. Male turtles have claws that are irregularly shaped and long, while female turtles have short claws with a rounded edge. When examining the fingers of your pets, you should take into account that turtles living in captivity have their claws ground down on the ground, so this method is not infallible.

The second method of determination is to examine the shell. To facilitate mating, nature created a more extended and elongated shell shape in boys; the female sex has a more rounded and wider shell.

The most common way to distinguish the sex of a red-eared turtle is to study the tail and cloaca. Having carefully examined the back of the pet, a conclusion is made based on the following statements:

Sex determination is also carried out by comparing the sizes of two adult turtles of different sexes. It is important that the turtles are the same age, so in this case you need to know how to determine the age of a red-eared slider. Females are larger and more massive than males, since they bear offspring and lay eggs in the future. Clearly expressed signs of gender differences appear during the mating season - male turtles become more active, behave agilely and try in every possible way to attract the attention of their partner, and female turtles calmly evaluate the behavior of the male.

Reliable determination of a pet's age

It is not difficult for a specialist to determine its age just by looking at a reptile. But what should inexperienced owners do when they get such an unusual pet? You can use several methods - measure the length of the carapace, evaluate the nature of its pattern, the shape and color of the shield.

Method I

It's not 100% correct, but it's still worth a look because it's fairly easy to do.

Initially, it is important to find out whether the turtle is male or female, which is not so easy to do, especially if we are talking about a young individual. And only after this can you measure the diameter of the reptile’s shell and compare the data obtained with basic information:

in the first year of life, the size of the carapace in red whales is 6 cm, regardless of gender;
in the second year of life, the diameter of the armored shield of females increases to 9 cm, of males - to 8 cm;
by the 3rd year, the carapace of females grows to 13-14 cm, and in males its length does not exceed 10 cm;
in the 4th year, the size of the shell of males and females increases on average by 2 cm;
in 5-year-old individuals, the length of the carapace is 18 cm in the case of a female, and 14 cm in males;
at 6 years, the female’s shield increases by 2 cm, the male’s by 3 cm.

When a reptile reaches 6 years of age, its shell grows to its maximum size, and subsequently its diameter remains practically unchanged. Even if this happens, the increase is insignificant, and gradually the growth stops completely. The size of the carapace of a red-eared turtle is associated with the following factors:

variety of diet;
the size of the aquaterrarium;
living conditions;
the absence of hibernation or the presence of this period.

If you take into account such nuances, it is easy to understand that errors, often quite significant, cannot be avoided in calculations. Having obtained data in this way, you can correct the result using another technique - the most reliable.

II method

This method is based on determining the age of a reptile from the image on its carapace. Experts consider a turtle's shell to be its individual identifier, comparing it to a human fingerprint.

If the turtle eats well and lives in suitable conditions, then the shield pattern will be unique. But when a reptile lives in an unsuitable environment, is injured, becomes dry, or experiences other difficulties, its scutes can become deformed and peel off, which negatively affects the pattern.

There are a number of concentric rings on the shell that indicate its age. They appear in individuals after the first year of life, and then become intense during the 2nd and 3rd years. Every 6 months there are 2-3 more rings, after which the process slows down, and then only one ring appears per year.

If you count the number of rings, it is easy to find out how old the four-legged swimming pet is. Even if he came to a new home already as a large, adult individual. To get an accurate figure, you need to count the rings and take the average result. And in this case, some discrepancy with reality is possible.

III method

This method is based on assessing the color of the carapace - the intensity of the shade changes with age. The younger the individual, the lighter and calmer the color of its shell. After 4 years his tone becomes darker. Older red-eared turtles have an almost black shield, and this also applies to the rings.

As the reptile matures, the carapace becomes regular, oval in shape, and its surface becomes smooth, which is not the case in young animals. Young turtles are more active, energetic and inquisitive, they move more and climb everywhere. Old individuals are sedentary and phlegmatic; they can often be found resting. But such signs are observed not only in turtles, but also in other creatures - old age manifests itself in the same way in almost everyone.

It is worth noting that if the pet was purchased when it was still small, then there is no particular need to calculate its exact age. The main thing is to distinguish between the needs of young, adult and elderly reptiles and provide suitable food and amenities. But, regardless of age, the red ear needs clean water, ultraviolet rays, warmth and maintaining certain parameters of both water and air. This is the key to a healthy, long and fulfilling life for your pet.

Many animal lovers have problems when it comes to determining the gender of a pet, but if the differences in the structure of primary sexual characteristics in cats and dogs are more or less clear to all of us, then the task of finding out whether a red-eared slider is male or female can baffle anyone.

Fortunately, in reality everything is not as difficult as it seems.

Diseases of aquatic reptiles and preventive measures

If you provide the marsh turtle with decent living conditions, you can avoid any problems with its health. She has strong natural immunity and high vitality. Most turtle illnesses are associated with improper housing conditions or poor care. More often than others, the following diseases and pathologies are detected in freshwater reptiles:

A cold is the result of cooling or keeping your pet in a draft. It manifests itself in the form of irregular, difficult breathing, the appearance of mucous discharge from the nasal passages and oral cavity. The turtle begins to wheeze, refuses to eat, and moves little.
Rectal prolapse or prolapse of the cloaca (cloacitis) - pathology can occur due to various reasons. Most often it develops against the background of helminthic infestation or prolonged diarrhea. The turtle's cloaca is visible, soil and debris stick to it, and the front limbs may swell.
Diarrhea - in most cases, is the result of eating low-quality or stale food.
Nematodosis and cestodosis - tapeworms and roundworms enter the reptile's body from food that has not undergone heat treatment.
Intestinal obstruction - the main cause is associated with the ingestion of foreign objects - small pebbles, sand, debris. Rarely manifests itself in the form of vomiting, shortness of breath, and neurological disorders.
Paralysis of various origins.
Violation or delay in egg laying - a turtle can carry its offspring beyond term due to a narrowing of the birth canal, large egg size, lack of a ready-made nest, and other reasons.
Infection with ectoparasites - creatures that parasitize the outer surface of the reptile.

In addition, when home furnishings are violated, residents are often injured and their skin is damaged. Often, inexperienced owners of marsh reptiles make a number of mistakes when keeping their pets, which leads to deformation of the armored scutes. More often, this occurs as a result of a deficiency of vitamin components and calcium during the period of active growth and puberty of the individual.

How to recognize by the shell

Having reached sexual maturity, females and males already differ in size. Males are usually smaller than females and have a more elongated shell. Females are larger and have a rounded shell. But this applies only to those individuals who have already reached sexual maturity.

At the age of six years, the length of the shell in males reaches 9-11 centimeters, and in females - 10-18.

The ventral part of the shell, the plastron, has a more concave shape in males. This is explained by the fact that during mating it will be more convenient for him to stay on the female’s back. The posterior part of the plastron in males is slightly pointed and resembles the English letter V.

Females have a flat, slightly rounded plastron closer to the tail.

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Claw length

Males of this breed, however, like most representatives of other varieties of turtles, have forelimbs equipped with elongated claws. Females also have them, but their length is much more modest, and there are no points at the ends. The male uses them during mating, holding the female with them, eliminating the possibility of slipping.

There is one caveat - when living in an artificial tank, a turtle can grind its claws on an island of land. In this case, it all depends on the material from which this section is made.

Determine the sex of a turtle by behavior

Female turtles are usually very shy and try to keep their heads pulled into their shells. Females are not very active and try to sit in one place. Males are much more active and inquisitive - they love to walk, so they rarely hide their heads.

You can accurately determine the sex of a turtle yourself only if you have several individuals living in your house and they can be compared with each other. If you buy one turtle, you can take it to a store or local zoo, where you can ask specialists to help determine its gender.

The decision to choose a pet is not easy for many. Do you want a pet to appear in the house - a companion who will not react painfully to the absence of the owner, will be balanced and will not create fuss in the house, and will not require significant material costs? In this case, a turtle is the best choice.

If it is an aquatic turtle, for example, then the aquaterrarium in which you place it will also become an expressive element of the interior of your home. It must be said that centenarians in nature can live up to 50 years. However, the life expectancy of this animal in a home pond is determined by the comfort of its existence in it.

With proper care and constant care, your reptile can live 30 years or more. Caring for a turtle in captivity does not require much effort, but there are some nuances here. First of all, you need to know exactly how old the pet you are purchasing is in order to provide it with optimal care.

MEET YOUR PET

Red-eared turtles are easy to care for and therefore are recommended for those who first decided to have reptiles. Red-eared turtles are a freshwater species. They live about 30-40 years. The length and shell can reach 18-30 centimeters.

The shell of turtles is olive or yellowish-brown in color. In young individuals it may be deep green.

The turtle's head and neck are covered with white and green stripes and spots. But they owe their name to two spots extending from the eye area. They have an orange-red tint.

The red-eared turtle comes from America. Its natural habitat is all of Central America and the northwestern part of South America. The species was also introduced into Israel, South Africa, Guadeloupe and other European countries, where it successfully took root.

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The amphibian lives in small swampy bodies of water: lakes, ponds. Turtles are inactive, but curious. Their favorite pastime is lying in the warm sun.

The red-eared turtle has well-developed vision and sense of smell, but the hearing and vocal cords of this amphibian are poorly developed. The turtle can only hiss or snort when excited and irritated. Possessing strong jaws, the red-eared turtle can seriously injure a person or other pet if it is in danger.

Video: find out the gender

When can it be determined?

Turtles live a long time, so they acquire both young and adult individuals. Determining gender at a young age (before reaching the age of puberty) is almost impossible. Therefore, in order to correctly and reliably determine the sex, it is necessary to wait until the turtle is five to eight years old.

Behavioral features

Most animals change their character during mating, and red-eared turtles are no exception. By some habits you can understand which sex a particular individual belongs to. First of all, at this time the males perk up, become more active and mobile

How else? After all, the primary task is to attract the attention of a female who is ready to mate. To do this, they stage real performances demonstrating their own capabilities and advantages. If an individual begins to wave its front legs with long, large claws in front of another turtle, then there should be no doubt - this is a male

In addition, gentlemen at this time become incredibly intrusive and literally do not give the “brides” passage, while making enticing, playful head movements

If an individual begins to wave its front legs with long, large claws in front of another turtle, then there should be no doubt that this is a male. In addition, gentlemen at this time become incredibly intrusive and literally do not allow the “brides” passage, while making enticing, playful head movements.

Medical research

If after all the manipulations it was still not possible to understand the gender, then you can turn to medical research. This technique can be used only after the ovaries or testes have fully matured.

IMPORTANT! If kept incorrectly, the reptile's hormonal levels are disrupted, which reduces the reliability of the results obtained.

When determining gender use:

To ensure the reliability of the information received, it is important to act step by step. Determining the sex of a red-eared slider should be done using all the proposed methods. If the results obtained are inconsistent and do not allow you to confidently classify your pet as a specific gender, trust your veterinarian.