General Care Discussion :: I think my RES is a boy...

[Jelly]

I know this has been a topic before, but I'm still not positive, so I thought I'd ask what you guys think:





She (cause we always thought she was a girl) has really big claws, but kind of a small tail. And I've never seen a penis before...

Also, the tank will be cleaned tomorrow, so nevermind the grossness in the water. And I just gave her a plant to eat, so she's been making a mess of that.

And do you think those white spots on her shell are problematic?

Thanks for any help - these turtles are like aliens to me! I never know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing with her, but I love her (or him)![/img]

[happycamper]

I think it's a girl.

[vic021]

thats a female the claws are short

[Jelly]

Oh good! I was having trouble warming up to the idea of calling her a him. Thanks for the feedback!

[vic021]

ha no problem and even though you think those claws are huge if you see a male that is scary haha i always thought my baby res had big claws then i ended up buying a full grown male and dang those claws were huge

[papoopeepoo]

Definitely female.

I had a hard time sexing my turtle too because there is nothing in her tank to wear her claws down, so her claws are medium length, but I can definitely tell by the tail length and width on yours and mine.

[untsmurf]

Definitely female. And the spots look like air bubbles, which are fine, just means the scutes are loose and working on shedding. But if you're really worried, take a pic of her shell after it's dry.

[steve]

I thought my RES was a male too until my other RES developed male characteristics. If t hat's glass in the tank, I'd remove it and get something that won't break and fit into their mouths.

[marisa]

With that tail, it looks like a female to me. What's with the yellow lipstick? Is it from that yellow object next to her?

[happycamper]

Yeah that yellow is wacky!

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Yeah thats a female and your not sppose to see his penis if he is a male if you do then thats a seroius problem

[untsmurf]

Yeah thats a female and your not sppose to see his penis if he is a male if you do then thats a seroius problem

Actually, being flashed by your maturing male is quite common. As long as it doesn't remain exposed it's completely normal.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Yeah thats a female and your not sppose to see his penis if he is a male if you do then thats a seroius problem

Actually, being flashed by your maturing male is quite common. As long as it doesn't remain exposed it's completely normal.

Oh so you can sometimes see his penis?

[untsmurf]

Yeah, usually only as they are maturing into adulthood, I guess you could call it their teenage years. They might flutter at you or another object in the tank, then they'll get excited and start fanning (exposing their penis). The only time you have to worry about it is if it doesn't retract back into his body.

[Ranger The Red Ear Slider]

Oh i never knew that so is that how they mate? the penis comes out of the shell?