I have listed and illustrated each one starting with what I feel to be the most reliable to the least reliable. This trait is also present on the box turtles and some semi aquatic water turtles. So to be able to find out you will have to wait for the turtle to reach maturity. If you click on one and make a purchase, we receive a small commission. Is there another way of identifying the gender? Your email address will not be published. This makes determining their sex much more difficult, but it's not impossible. Their feet are slightly webbed. In males, the irises are red and in females, they're yellowish brown. I want to get another box turtle to have hatchlings, but I do not know for sure the gender. The characteristics can vary some between subspecies. This page may also contain Third Party Advertising, using online behavioral tracking technology.You may be able to opt out of this tracking and seeing some of these ads. In ornate males, the first toe on the hind leg turns in. Hope that helps :) I took my 2 red-eared sliders to pet smart to make sure. Disclosure of Material Connections: You should assume that the Owner of this website has an affiliate relationship and/or other material connection to the providers of goods and services mentioned in this website. He/she has male and female characteristics. Eggs are, of course, a sure sign you have a girl. h�b``�b``Z�������A����X8L`��ū~+��a���@W��d�HƮ�'
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So you may or may not be able to tell the sex of your turtle or tortoise easily. The. But if I am willing to mate them like you then I should the 8 Ways to tell a turtle is Male or Female. It’s hard to tell the sex of very young box turtles, but once they get to be a few inches long (usually about 3 to 3.5 inches), you can start to see the differences between the sexes. For tortoises this trait goes across the board though. Again, it's going to depend on the species and their age. If you want to keep more than one box turtle, it’s a good idea to know the sex of each animal. Here is a list of how to tell, There are three basic things to look for when determining the sex of a box turtle, and many other turtles for that matter. Unless you plan to breed them, it’s best to house males and females separately. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Males have an indention on the posterior end of their plastron (below the hinge).This depression allows the male to gain stability when mounted on a female during copulation. As is common in wild animals, male box turtles are usually more brightly colored than females. Males (above) have a large, thick tail. When the tail is relaxed, the cloaca is situated behind the rim of the shell. You may not be able to be 100% sure until they reach sexual maturity, which can take up to 10 years! If your turtle has already reached maturity then it should be really easy to find out. Box turtle skeleton Box turtles have a hard shell that protects their organs. If you keep pet turtles, it's nice to know if you've got boys or girls. Many times the only way to be 100% positive is if you have two turtles that are mating … but even then you may not be absolutely positive the one on the bottom is female, because males will try to mount other males. These turtles range in length from about 4 to 8 inches, with males slightly larger than females, and can live more than 100 years. Required fields are marked *. Three toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) has a tan/olive shell with yellow/orange spots on head and limbs and three toes on each hind foot. This is because males can be aggressive toward each other when housed together. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; But how do you tell the sex of a turtle? The male’s vent (opening to the, Eastern box turtle males also have another feature that makes mating easier. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a8ab0de3a879f1f52e09dbecb1b3d177" );document.getElementById("ca6395b26b").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Disclosure: Some of the links on this site may be affiliate links. In some species, it's easy to tell male from female turtles just by their body shape. However, quite often curiosity strikes and people simply want to know. No reproduction permitted without express written permission. Can I Let My Box Turtle Go Back to the Wild? Males are usually more colorful than the females, especially the Eastern subspecies. Also, most of these characteristics rely on differences between males and females. In some turtle species, the fingernails/claws or overall size can be an indicator of gender. look at its tail, if its butt hole is farther down the tail its a male. What are specifics of the skeleton of a box turtle, how to tell their sex and information about their organs. There are many ways to tell a male and female box turtle apart. 317 0 obj
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Since box turtles have their sex organs inside their shells, it is difficult to determine its sex. Looking at the bottom of the tortoise’s shell you will immediately be able to tell the difference between a male and female given that on males it will be concave (meaning it goes inward). Tail Length. Males can have red heads. This page provides detailed information on the box turtle anatomy. amzn_assoc_default_browse_node = "2619533011"; The turtles in the pond behind my house love Puppy Chow ! Commercially bred and owned common box turtles can have a plethora of medical issues to deal with, but species depending—under the right conditions and with proper care—box turtles can live for decades. Often the … Using Tails to Determine Gender The most common way to determine gender in a turtle is to look at the length of its tail. Unless you know when a turtle is born, it's nearly impossible to tell its age. Females tend to have brown eyes, and when she does have red eyes, it’s a darker red than the males. As a characteristic of box turtles they possess a hinge on their plastron allowing for them to completely close up their shells. The turtle’s shell, or carapace, differs slightly between male and female. They have one turtle living comfortably in its tank and its sex simply isn’t important. To learn more, visit the Network Advertising Initiative's opt-out page or the Digital Advertising Alliance. [1] X Research source Reptile Medicine and Surgery. If you don’t know how to check if your turtle is male or female check this article out: How to Tell If Your Turtle Is Male or Female. The male turtle usually has a concave in its plastron that makes it easier for it to climb on the female during mating. endstream
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Female ornate box turtles typically grow to be larger than their male counterparts. Look at your turtle’s shell. Male/Female differentitaiton by: Anonymous there is another way to tell if a turtle is male or female. If it curves in slightly, it's a male. However, unlike many mammals, turtles have no external genitalia. Use your best judgement when using the information on this site, and understand that it is not a substitute for veterinary advice or common sense. 826. 338 0 obj
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