How to distinguish a boy's turtle from a girl: choose a red-eared pet

Sometimes sellers in pet stores are not competent (or pretend), so in determining the sex of the pet you have to rely entirely on your strength. This article will tell you how to distinguish a red-bellied turtle-boy from a girl. Of course, it's possible to establish the gender of the pet with the help of laboratory tests, but not everyone approaches this method. Therefore, the sex of turtles will be determined independently by external features.

At what age can you determine the gender of turtles?

It is possible to identify the male and female reliably only when the turtles reach the reproductive age. And this usually happens in six to eight years. During this period, the tortoises change some of the external signs. For example, by this age the shell of the red-bellied turtle should reach a minimum of ten centimeters in diameter.

And if you want to get a younger individual, then how to distinguish a turtle-boy from a girl? At two years of age, of course, you can also determine sex. This will help a thorough analysis of the external characteristics of the turtles.

Helpful advice. If you are not an experienced specialist and want to get more reliable data, then consider several turtles at the same time. So there will be an opportunity to evaluate the external signs of different representatives of the species.

So, what signs will show how to distinguish a turtle-boy from a girl?

Determine the sex of the shape of the shell

Plastron (that is, the abdominal armor) of the males is concave. This allows you to hold on to a friend while mating. In view of the uselessness of the female, there is no such feature. In girls, the tummy sometimes even protrudes, has a curved shape. Also, the turtles-boys on the plastron have many small specks. At girls they big and rare.

The dorsal shield (carapace) of the turtles has an elongated shape that is closer to the tail like a tick. In girls the shell is more rounded.

Features of claws - a sexual sign of turtles

By the way, by the same sign it is possible to determine what kind of land the tortoise is. How to distinguish a boy from a girl? It's simple. On the front paws of the male, long curved claws. In females, they are more rounded and short. Again, this feature helps the male turtle to hold onto the armor of his partner during mating.

However, with this sign you need to be careful. A turtle can simply stitch its claws, if most of the time will be spent on the islet. Here it is worth paying attention to the material from which the elements of the land are made.

Determine the floor along the tail

How to distinguish a turtle-boy from a girl by tail? In males, it is broader and longer than in females.

Another important feature is the cloaca. Since female individuals by nature lay eggs, then for this important function you need the appropriate body structure. The female cloaca is larger and closer to the shell. In males, on the contrary. The cloaca of turtles-boys is similar to a small straight line, and for girls - to an asterisk.

Pay attention to the size of the body of turtles

This symptom will help in determining sex if turtles are the same age. Girls are larger than boys, because they perform an important reproductive function: they hatcher eggs, and later they are laid.

How to distinguish a tortoise-boy from a girl by the characteristics of behavior

Usually in the wild, males have to fight for the right to fertilize the female. To do this, they have to dodge everything in order to please and attract the attention of the chosen one of their heart. Red-bellied turtles in this matter - not an exception.

In the mating season males become more energetic. They demonstrate their potential, they arrange various games. If one turtle is constantly catching up with another, then we can conclude that the breeding season has begun. The boy catches up with the girl to show herself to her in all its glory. Usually males in front of the females are attractively shaking their heads and moving their front paws.

Simultaneous comparison of several individuals and a cumulative analysis of all the listed characteristics will help determine the sex of the future pet. If you know how to distinguish red-bellied turtles (a boy from a girl), then you can choose a nickname in advance for your pet. Of course, until sexually mature, it is difficult to accurately determine the sex of this exotic animal. To do this, you need to be a great specialist, but, as they say, you can try your luck.