How to determine the sex of red-eared turtles?

It is believed that the sex of the red-eared turtle can be determined after 4-5 years of age. It was then that several signs indicate gender and it is almost impossible to make a mistake. However, you don’t have to wait that long. Usually sex differences are noticeable after 5-6 months, possibly even earlier. The main clue is the indentation in the plastron that appears in males. What other signs are there?

• The size.

Females are usually larger than males. But this method of determining sex is relevant if you have several individuals of different sexes. If there is only one turtle, you will have no one to compare with.

• Red stripe.

The principle of comparison also applies here. If one turtle has a brighter and clearer stripe on its head, while the other has a dull one, then the first male.

• Paws.

In both sexes, the claws on the hind feet will be equally short. And according to the front paws, the sex is determined as follows: for the female – short, for the male – long, so that when mating it is convenient to cling to the female’s shell.

But keep in mind that this is not a completely reliable method. In young animals, the claws are not fully formed, and in mature individuals, they can be worn off on the hard ground of the aquarium.

• Shell structure.

This is a more reliable way to tell a female red-eared turtle from a male. To do this, turn the turtle over and look at its so-called belly (plastron). In males, it will be concave in the middle, while in females it will not. This is to make it easier for males to climb onto their ladies when mating.

The shape of the shell itself is also different. So, in the male in the tail part, it is pointed and, as it were, forms the letter “V”. The females in this zone are round, and they also have a hole for laying eggs.

• Tail.

The male’s tail is long and wide, with a thickening at the base, because the reptile’s genitals are hidden in it. The female’s tail will be short and thin.

On the tail is a cloaca, which in females is closer to the shell and looks like an asterisk. In the male red-eared turtle, it is oblong and is located closer to the tip of the tail.

• Muzzle.

It is not worth relying only on this sign, only in conjunction with others. In the male, the muzzle is usually elongated and more pointed. In females – wide and rounded.

• Behavior.

By the way the turtle behaves, you can also guess its gender. Males are more active. They love to swim, more often they crawl out onto the land to warm themselves, then again flop into the water. Females can either swim or bask for a long time.

Males are more aggressive and may bite. The female will bite only when absolutely necessary.

During the mating season, the behavior of turtles of different sexes differ markedly. Especially it is worth paying attention to the male. He becomes even more active, begins to nod his head funny and tickle the cheeks of the young lady with his long claws. And the male can approach the female and start biting that one by the neck.

• Analysis by a veterinarian.

This is perhaps the most accurate way to find out the sex of a red-eared turtle. But before the age of 7, it is useless to use it: the males have not formed the testes, and the females – the ovaries.

Once a turtle reaches sexual maturity, its exact sex can be determined. The male is determined by a blood test, and the females by ultrasound.

Why know the sex of the red-eared turtle?

There are several reasons for this.

• Name choice. In order to simply give your pet a nickname, the owner needs to know the gender of the turtle. Still, it is important for a person to know with whom they are dealing – with a girl or a boy.

• Keeping multiple individuals. If several females can get along quite well, then the males will definitely arrange a showdown over the territory, and this is traumatic.

• Breeding. If you do not want to breed, then buy two or more female turtles. Otherwise, you will need two heterosexual individuals.

We will talk about the expediency of breeding later.

Is it worth it to breed red-eared turtles?

If an inexperienced person decides to start breeding red-eared turtles at home, he may encounter several difficulties. To do this, you will need a special incubator, and knowledge of how to use it. You also need to help a pair of turtles during the mating season. For example, to maintain the optimum temperature for them, to separate them from other turtles in a separate terrarium, to increase the intensity of lighting.

In nature, the female lays her eggs in wet sand, so for this purpose, a container with sand or peat should be placed in the terrarium. If there is no specially designated place, the mother will lay her eggs anywhere – on an island of land or in water. After that, the female will not take care of the eggs in any way, so you will have to take on the role of the mother.

It is very important to maintain the optimum temperature in the incubator (25-30°C). And you yourself can influence what gender the kids will be. If you want only males, then set the temperature to 27°C, and if females – 30°C.

In the incubator, the eggs should be from 3 to 5 months, then turtles begin to hatch from them. They will have to be placed separately from the rest of the turtles, because they will injure the babies. After 1-1,5 years, young turtles can be introduced to the “old men”.

Remember that breeding any animals is a complex and responsible process. If something goes wrong, and an adult or a cub needs help, you must provide it in time and correctly. It is impossible to do this without special knowledge and proper experience.