sexing turtles

[saikrett]

I've had a pair of eastern long necks for a few months now and i was hoping to sex them soon, I'll try to get some photos of the cloaca of them both to help. As i've read that thats the easiest way to do it,
Also, one of my turtles has been spending alot of time out of the water, is it starting to hibernate? as it is getting quite cool now.

And one last thing, is there any way to tell if they are gravid?

thanks
scott

 

[instar]

scott, it depends how old they are, or rather their size. males have the cloaca[hole] noticably closer the end of the tail, where as females have it closer to the plasteron. the "v" notch in the plastron is more "u" shaped on the male to allow forward positioning of the cloaca. Females can be checked for eggs by GENTLY feeling in the rear limb pocket [legs come out] eggs will feel a bit like marbles. they harden befor laying approx 4 weeks after fertilisation. females can be xrayed by a vet to detemin if gravid. hope this helps. heres a site for you.
http://www.chelodina.com/

 

[instar]

p.s dont worry about it being out of the water alot if it looks in good health. its normal. wild turtles or cb's kept outside will begin hibernating soon although chelodina are a cold specialist ,they have been found still active at 11c ! the site above will tell you all you need to know, best of luck mate.

 

[Morelia_man]

i am not trying to take over the thread but i have lost my turlte.. and their is no way he can get out as the gound is concrete covered with a foot of dirt. and its just a big avery. do they bury themselves and hibernate?

 

[saikrett]

one of mine loves to bury itself

 

[instar]

they can climb, especially chelodina. you'd be surprised. other than that poss, yes they do bury to hibernate sometimes.

 

[saikrett]

here's some pics"
What do you thinK??

 

[instar]

the center pic with darker markings is most likly male, the others tale is small n cute probly the girly, bit hard to tell. if ya can get a shot with the tail out b better. what size are they /how old?

 

[saikrett]

not sure of age, i'll measure and get better photos now.

 

[instar]

a comparison pic like the third one but with both tails out would be just the ticket. the boys tail is longer and bit thicker and as i said before the males cloaca is closer to the tail tip.

 

[saikrett]

the lighter one is 17cm and the dark one is 18cm

 

[nuthn2do]

I just go off the plastron shape - concave for a male. Don't you ever get skunked when proding around the back end??
That really sucks :shock:

 

[saikrett]

and stinks!

 

[jimmy_the_kid]

look at the tail on that shela wat a fox

 

[saikrett]

watever does it for you lol
I'm pretty sure the dark one is a male and i'm hoping for the other to be a female

 

[instar]

they look very close dont they, the top one is almost certainly the boy. at 17/18cm they could be around 2/3 years. most cb's mature at about 4/5 years, bit faster than wild ones at 6/8 yrs.
p.s. just realised i misworded my earlier post, female [not male] has a more "u "shaped tail notch. are you planning to breed them? have they displayed any "gettin funky" behaviour?

 

[jimmy_the_kid]

o well ive got nuthin against gays

 

[saikrett]

What does there "funky behaviour" consist of?

 

[instar]

the musk they emit is a protective mechanism, tells preds to back off. only cb's living outdoors that dont get handled much will do it. cb's indoors just dont. it does stink dosent it, been done by a few wc turtles. lol the plastron method [concave in males to assist mounting] is not always accurate, especially with young turtles. concavity is not readily apparent till they are older, i.e nearer maturation.

 

[instar]

"funky" behaviour includes the male swimming closly above the female, sometimes behind "sniffing" the girls cloaca and fanning with the front feet over/on her shell.