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Hi all u turtle lovers..

I'm new to this site... but I love it. The most helpful (and best photos) turtle site I've come across on the web so far....

Me n my boyfriend has an adorable very cute-talkative-playful-social turtle (RES, about 1 yo) Panchita, or actually we're beginning to doubt since "she" has grown... n are pretty sure we should consider changing the name to Panchito... She (have a hard time calling "her" "he" yet - it'll take some time to adjust...) seems very happy n healthy, no problem... Then the other day, that's why I've spend a good amount of my time today browsing this site, I suddenly looked up at her in her tank and saw this big, mainly black, but also pinkish thing coming out of her (!!!) - it was like one black thing, that before seeing this site I thought was poo, but also a pinkish thing looking like some intestine coming out, very big... she seemed uncomfortable, moving rapidly, even got on her "log" basking, still with the "thing" out of her. I freaked out n ran to my boyfriend who was in the shower not believing me... Anyways when he finally came out n looked at her, I seemed like a fool cause it was not there anymore, n she seemed happy n healthy as ever. A couple of weeks later both of us saw the same thing, this time not as big only black, moving in n out of "her". Only took 3 min n it went back in... We have realized that we've probably been overfeeding her (especially with her favorite treat can O shrimps) n have now began a healthy strict diet for her.... Browsing through this site I've learned that the black "thing" most likely is "his" penis. But what about the big pinkish thing I saw a while ago - doesn't that sound like prolapse? It went back in n she seems perfectly fine, should I still go see a vet? Any comments, suggestions would be great!

Turtle love.

// Ditte (and panchita)

I'm not sure if this will help answer your question, but here are some very good photos of a male turtle's bits.

http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewt ... ight=penis

Hey thanx... I actually saw those pics... the thing we saw the second time looks like that (maybe bigger I think...), which makes me pretty sure it was his penis - but first time it was definitely more than "just" the penis were coming out. Maybe she/he had a prolapse n cured herself??

Looks like a name change is in order. It is possible for a prolapse to retract, but it really sounds more like your turtle was fanning his organ. As long as it goes back in, there shouldn't be a problem.

I'm no expert, but i thought you could tell the gender of a RES just by sitting them on a flat, hard surface and pushing down lightly on the very back of their shell. The male will teeter back and forth and the female will sit flat.

At least that's what I was told... and it remains true for my two turtles (i have one male and one female)

plus, the males have noticably longer claws and are generally smaller. It helps if you have one of each though in order to compare i suppose.

I believe the most accurate ways to tell are the nails and the tails. I find the nails the easiest because you cannot mistake a male's claws compared to the stubby nails of a female.

For me, the most accurate way to tell (when the shell length is approximately 4 inches long) is the tail and where the cloaca (anal vent) is located.

The concave shell that you speak of doesn't really apply to RES and other aquatic species, but more to some terrestrial species.

Long nails are a definite marker, but for me, the most accurate way to tell (when the shell length is approximately 4 inches long) is the tail and where the cloaca (anal vent) is located.

The concave shell that you speak of doesn't really apply to RES and other aquatic species, but more to some terrestrial species.

well, that's strange because my male does teeter and my female does lay flat.
coincidence?

has anyone else tried this?

My male res's plastron is perfectly flat.

I went to feed my turtle, Fudge, and discovered his bits and/or organs were hanging out. About how long should I expect this "hanging out" to last; i.e. when should I start getting worried?

He did this before a couple years ago and it went on for about 3 days. However, I remember his bits and/or organ as being much more reddish in color (as opposed to now when it just looks like a gigantic turd). His water temperature got quite cold last night because he had managed to kick his thermometer out of the water, and although the outside temperature has cooled considerably we only just turned our apartment heat on this morning, so I'm just hoping everything is okay with him.

Thanks!

Welcome. My RES has always retracted rather quickly when he's seen me coming (perhaps he wants his privacy?). I remember someone else had pictures show their RES fanning (even when picked up), and I got the impression that incident lasted quite a while (but I doubt it was 3 days). If he's retracted himself I don't think I'd be concerned (unless it becomes really frequent, which you indicated isn't).

Sexing a slider is best done by the claws and tale method. MALE long claws and fats tail. Caution -- whatever is hanging out of your turtle's rear is likely to get bitten off. His buddies will have no compunction about taking a bit out of it.
Proplapse or sex organ it will then get infected.