General Care Discussion :: RES' shell(carapace) flexibility?...

[Twoster]

hey everyone, its been a minute since i last posted, been really busy with the move into the new apartment and such..but today i had koopa out for a second while i was cleaning some things in his tank, and i was observing his shell/scutes (he is about 3 or 4 months old, still hasnt shed any scutes yet) but anyways, i noticed that towards the rear of his carapace (towards his tail side) that the shell is rather flexible...the rest of the shell is rather stiff and harder..im thinking that this isnt a big deal/its normal..but i just wanted to make sure..sorry i cant post a pic..i was just hoping to see if anyone knows exactly what im talking about..its not REALLY soft..just kinda flexible..both directions (up and down)...hope hes alright..

can anyone let me know how long it takes for RES' shell to become hard like adults?

[SpotsMama]

I don't know how long it should take for the shell to harden. What I have seen says a baby turtle's shell is normally somewhat flexible (not floppy) and it should harden in a few months. The rear end of the shell is normally where the flexibility is.

How many months is a few months? Maybe someone else on here knows.

[Twoster]

Thank you, yea ive read the same about a few months...his shell looks healthy..and its not floppy..haha..thank goodness..just has some flex towards his rear end..

also, is it true that you can sex RES' by the concave on their plastron?..i read somewheres that males tend to have the concave surface on their plastrons..i guess for "mounting" up maybe?..lol..if so..koopa is def. a boy!!

[Tenodera]

I dunno if that counts for sliders, doesn't it usually apply to land based turtles?

[urbancleopatra]

That's the way my babies are. The whole shell is hard as anything except for the back few scutes. I wouldn't say flexible I would say slightly pliable but not mushy.

[marisa]

The rear marginal scutes above the tail on hatchlings' shells often have a little give to them. The shell grows progressively stronger (assuming an adequate diet and habitat) and normally hardens up at around a year.

[Twoster]

thanks again...