General Care Discussion :: Boy or a Girl? Second Opinion

[drtweak]

Well this is Spike and Spike is over a year old, But have had him/her for only a year now. Spike is now 6 inches and should show clear signs of sex. I have a feeling spike is a girl but i just want a second opinion.

You can look at the pics on my site. They are big pics so i wont post them on here.

http://www.thetweakingzone.com/files/pics/Pets/spike/

Any opinions? Girl? Boy? Thinking what i've been calling a he is really a she

[meltedspork]

Spike is a girl

[Caphits]

I agree

[TheComputerGremlin]

A lovely little lady. I had the same gender issue, so I changed her name from Mikey (from when I figured on a boy) to Umi. It made the transition a little easier, we don't accidentally call her "he" anymore!

[blackforces get you]

female because of the nails

[mike hill]

I am inclined to agree with the female pick. Unless "she/he" grows a lot of nails in the next year or so it is a she!! m.

[taurusgirl]

that is a she

[SpotsMama]

Girl.

[drtweak]

Lmao Well All i needed was a second opinion but I guess 7 of them is good enough lol.

Alright next question then...

The area where you check to see if a turtle is gravid or not is in front of the legs and the shell not in the back by the tail right? It seems like its where her lungs are almost. they seems to fill up with air...

Well SHE has been acting werid. Wanting to get out of the tank badly but thankfuly no escapes yet, She has moved all the rocks at the bottom and exposes the undergravle filter (I just have it there so the rocks dont damage the glass) and kinda just sits there...I've taken her out a few time and she seems to just walk though the grass and tends to hide...

But i was able to feel in front of the legs today and i didnt really feel anything but i was kinda afraid of hurting her. Would it be that noticeable or would i have to really feel in there?

[theartbook35]

Long nails, but not long enough.

She plastron seems pretty flat to me, and her cloaca is closer to her shell.

Thanks for posting the pictures You have a very beautiful young lady.

[SpotsMama]

On the eggs, yes the place to feel is in front of the legs. You have to be very gentle - you definitely don't want to break anything while it's inside her. It's hard to do - turtles do not want you feeling around there. I've been told if you can feel them, they will feel sort of like grapes. I think most people are unable to feel them there because the turt won't allow it.

Have you read up on the subject of turtle reproduction on this site? There's some very good info, plus some links to other sites with more detail.

[Pam]

You check for eggs in the front of the rear legs - not the front legs.

[drtweak]

Yea i got the point where its in front of the rear legs. but what i need to know now is will i notice it easily or no? Usualy if i hold her long enough in my hand she will start moving around trying to get me to let her go lol and i can feel at that spot. But i didnt feel anything right off the bat. I didnt put too much pressure or anything. Just want to know if it is notice able or not and how hard i have to push.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I've always heard it's pretty noticeable if you can feel it. I'd say just trying picking her up at various times over a few days and see if you notice anything. It also can't hurt to let her have some outings for awhile to see if she starts digging to lay. They tend to like bushes, so try there.

[marisa]

Just by looking at the tail pic, definitely a female.