Other Turtle Discussion :: I need help identifying my turtle!

Non-care related topics here.

Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:20 am   I need help identifying my turtle!

Hello everyone! I've had my turtle for nearly 14 years now and I've always had doubt as to what species he was. When I first got him I was told that he was a red ear slider but I've always had my doubts because his ears aren't red. Hopefully the pictures I've provided will be enough for some of you to help me determine his species. There's one more thing on my mind though. My brother once got a red ear slider himself and we kept our turtles together (until sadly his passed away) and his turtle had the signature long nails that males of the red ear slider species have but it was always my turtle that would mount his and try mating with it. Now, my turtle does not have long nails but he does have a long tail and the way he acted with that other turtle confirmed my belief of his sex. Does anyone have any input about this?

I'm actually having trouble uploading pictures to this forum. How can I upload them?
Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 11:19 am   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

You'll need to post the pictures somewhere else and then embed them into your post using the img tag. (Use the full editor button when posting.)
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ljapa
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:19 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

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Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:52 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Yellow belly-red ear slider hybrid? Maybe? Someone else can confirm this better for you
http://www.photobucket.com/Toku
Toku's build thread, click link below;
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34068
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slider_keeper
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 5:46 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

I've always had a hunch that he was a hybrid.
Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:24 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Good looking turtle! What happen to the scutes on his Carapace? Does he have fungus?
http://www.photobucket.com/Toku
Toku's build thread, click link below;
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34068
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slider_keeper
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:52 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Thank you very much! He doesn't have a fungus. Those scutes are about to come off, that's all. He continously sheds and doesn't stop growing. He's perfectly healthy. Thanks for asking.
Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:52 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Its impossible to tell considering it appears to be on its way to being melanistic. I'm leaning towards res x nicaraguan slider. Nicaraguan males do not have longer nails than females, they have a longer pointed snout. Could also be res x trachemys gaigeae, or even a very odd looking melanistic trachemys gaigeae. Do you by chance live in texas?
justatwinturbo
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:59 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

No, I live in New York. What's melanistic?
Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:34 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Melanistic is the black coloring, basically the turtle will be all black with no patterns visible. I was just curious about the scutes. He does look very good. Whatever he is, he is a unique looking turtle:)

Just- how can you tell if he is Nicaraguan? Do they have all yellow plastrons too? I'm just curious;)
http://www.photobucket.com/Toku
Toku's build thread, click link below;
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34068
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slider_keeper
 
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Post Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:48 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

They do, but the fact that its becoming melanistic takes away from the patterning. Melanistic doesn't exactly mean they turn all black, it does have to do with some parts becoming black, but oddly in sliders they can become quite yellow in the carapace and plastron. Melanism is basically the exact opposite of hypo, in that pigments become darker rather than lighter. Nicaraguan sliders, have a post orbital marking that does not contact the eye, just like this turtle. Sometimes they'll have a little dot right behind the eye, then a break...again like this turtle. The only problem is, there's a couple other species like this. Such as gaigeae, or even some rio grande res.
justatwinturbo
 
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 11:57 am   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Ahhh, awesome thanks for the correction and the insites, very cool. After looking at the pics again there seems to be more red on the head than not. A yellow belly wouldn't contribute that much red, huh?
http://www.photobucket.com/Toku
Toku's build thread, click link below;
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34068
2 Male Rio Grande RES
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slider_keeper
 
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:30 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Any ybs x res I've ever seen, has the post orbital, and mandible stripes connected like ybs. They can still have red ears though, and usually do.
justatwinturbo
 
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:49 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Thank you guys for your input. I have done a lot of research and I now have a strong feeling he's a cross between Trachemys Scripta Scripta and Trachemys Emolli.
Marrero18
 
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Post Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:13 pm   Re: I need help identifying my turtle!

Trachemys scripta scripta is yellow bellied slider. I highly doubt that, trachemys scripta elegans is more likely
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