General Care Discussion :: Has anyone seen this happen before?

[marisa]

And they'll be adoring you for it (you're going to see it in their eyes, eventually).

[kimberly183]

You know, since I know at least one person is still watching this (thank you!), let me sneak in one last thing: we have since found out that the young lady who gave us the turtles was mistaken about their gender and had them reversed. It does make more sense that the male is the aggressor.

My question is about the female. I think she wants to dig. I don't think they have mated (although, it's only been since Sunday that we've had them), but could I just put her in a quiet spot in a rubbermaid or something, and let her lay if she needs to? Or at least try it? Give her a little alone time? If so, what type of soil - organic potting soil (we have that at home already). I haven't been able to find the specifics. Thanks! This site so awesome!

[powerofvoodoo]

To find out more information about gravid females, you might want to look up posts by camee1991. The past couple of months she's been dealing with a LOT of egg laying. I think that turtles prefer to lay outside so they can pick their spot to lay.
BUT,
If you're correct about your initial analysis about the size of them (under 4" for both), neither of them are sexually mature yet and you may not know for sure what sex they are. Males usually have longer nails and tails than females (they get freakishly long, there are a lot of pictures of males in the photo gallery), and females have stubby nails and short tails (pictures can also be found in the photo gallery). Until they're 4" though, they're not sexually mature, therefore the female wouldn't be gravid, as far as I know.

[kimberly183]

Thanks for this! As Marisa was kind enough to point out, though, I was measuring width and not true "size" - carapace length. Regauging, now, I think our little girl is gravid She really wants to get out, and digs like mad in the pile of rocks we gave her for basking.

And that is indeed how I found out which one was male and female - nail length & tail size. I was told the incorrect information about their gender by the person we got them from (that's one reason I am happy we got the turtles away from their previous owner . . . she had A LOT of incorrect information!).

Oddly, though, I wonder if our "male" is actually both genders. These little guys are supposedly the same age, yet the female is the smaller, and the male, with long nails and a wide tail, is at least 1.5 inches larger! I know it can happen, based on incubation temperature, but we have a vet appointment coming up and I guess I will let our vet tell me the real deal!

I am going to get some nesting materials later today. If nothing else, it won't hurt. I appreciate your input, though! It really makes me feel like I am learning something new! I have rescued many animals, but RES are a first. It all seems to be falling in place!

(Incidentally, for other watchers who posted before, we are getting a 55 gallon tank. We still might separate them, though, so we are holding on to the 20L)

Again, thanks, everyone!

[marisa]

Does the female have an appetite? They often loose their appetite when they're gravid as well. I think it would be unusual for a 4-inch female to be gravid (although I'm not quite sure how big yours is). If she is gravid, the smaller her size, the less the chance that the eggs would be viable even if they did mate.

I'm not sure what incubation temp has to to with size, although it does determine the sex. Females ultimately grow larger than males, but I don't think they necessarily have to be bigger than males when they're younger.

[kimberly183]

I think you misunderstood = I didn't say incubation temp has to do with size - but it does have to do with sex and dual genders can occur:

<<Oddly, though, I wonder if our "male" is actually both genders . . . I know it can happen, based on incubation temperature>>

I found it odd that two turtles of the same age have such a difference in size. The female is about 4 inches, but the male is nearly 5.5. That's why I was just musing about the possibility of dual gender.

[marisa]

Ah, when you take out the middle info, it reads to me as you intended it to.

I'd be surprised in the male/larger turtle is dual-gender.

[kimberly183]

Well, if you knew me better, it wouldn't surprise me. My life is often quite bizarre!