All Turtles Message Board

Shannon · Level 1 Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Ky

I have 3 Red Ear Sliders and I don't know if there a girl or boy is there a way of telling them apart, I rescued them from 2 family that no longer wanted to take care of them. I have 2 hacthlings and one that is about 3yrs old. I love them they are so funny. I'm a newbie so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Shannon

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:42 am Post subject:

Well, the three year old will be more easy to tell whether it is a boy or a girl, but the hatchlings are still too small to tell for sure.

Females will have shorter claws than males
Males will have long claws used to impress the female
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Their tail will be shorter and chubby with the cloaca (poop hole) near the bottom shell's edge.
The male's will be thin and long with the poop hole being away from the bottom shell's edge.
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The bottom of the shell (plastron) on the female will be either flat or convex (curved out).
On the male it will be curved in (kinda like it is sucking his stomach in), it is that way so it will fit over the female better during mating.
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Shannon · Level 1 Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Ky

Thanks for the help, it's a girl! If the other ones are girls will they be aggresive? I have all them in a 20gal tank will this do for awhile? Sorry, for all the guestions I love animals of any kind so I took them on so they wound'nt be killed! Thank you for the information!!!!
Thanks
Shannon

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:21 pm Post subject:

You are welcome, the rule of thumb is 10 gallons per every inch of shell per turtle, so if each of you turtles is 2 inches, the tank would have to be 60 gallons, I recently did an upgrade to a 29 gallon tank, it is still small compared to what they need, but it is the best I can do for now, I actually want to make them a pond for their old age, but it will have to wait a while longer. Very Happy

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dixieee · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:42 pm Post subject:

welcome to the board Smile

ok so now after it's a girl it's not necessary that they'll fight even if they're all girls..the rule does say 10 gallons/inch of shell length but this is too much and few people follow it..the 20-gallon will be good for the hatchlings now..or do u keep them all together?? if they're doing great together don't seperate them and if ur problem is money then u can use a rubbermaid instead..they are bigger and cheaper

good luck with ur guys and girl Smile

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Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Kitty · Level 3 Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 100 Location: Tracy, Ca

Don't forget there is allways the kids wadding pools, Big and cheep, some have a slide, great turtle ramp, just wrap something around the top outside, so they don't just slide out the wrong side...lol
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There is nothing more exciting than to see baby Turtles, popping up out of the ground, or to find them wondering across the yard.

Shannon · Level 1 Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Ky

I have them together they are doing great, I just put them in the 20gl tank yesterday. I have a tote they were in but I have a 2yr old boy that kept wanting to play in the water and I was afraid that he might hurt them, so that the reason that I put them together in the tank. Maybe later I can get them a bigger tank but right now this will have to do. Thank everyone for the help and the information.
Thanks
Shannon

dixieee · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:47 pm Post subject:

it'll do as a temp. Smile

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u