Owners of cats or dogs determine the sex of their pet relatively easily, only after hitting the tail of his ward. But for a man who tied his life with a turtle , such a task is somewhat difficult. Especially if he's just a novice lover. In the question of how turtles define sex, many factors play a role. The best way to visually examine your pet, comparing it to another living specimen, which you know exactly about the male or female. But we will describe here the most precise signs that should help the reader to solve this problem.
Determine the sex of turtles
You can find out your male reptile or female only after reaching a certain age. For example, in a giant tortoise, sexual signs begin to appear at all in about twenty years. Although there are species that can do this even a year or two. But it is best to determine the sex of the land tortoises about six or eight years old, when the shell length reaches 10 cm and all sexual characteristics will be evident.
Symptoms that are suitable regardless of the type of turtle
- Turtles are different in that they have female larger than males. Especially this difference in weight and the size of the shell is visible after reaching the age of maturity.
- If you keep a few turtles, then its sex will manifest itself in the behavior of pets. All the same, males are more aggressive than "ladies" by their nature. They begin to hooligan with age, trying to hurt and turn the opponent.
- Also, males have several large claws, which they no longer need to protect or attack, so much for other, more peaceful purposes. These devices they use as hooks to stay on the slippery shell of their girlfriend.
- The belly of turtles is called a plastron. So, the representatives of different sexes it is slightly different. The female plastrons are usually slightly convex or absolutely flat. The males have a concave belly, which greatly facilitates their mating.
- How to know the sex of a tortoise, will help us to inspect the shape of the shell. It turns out that there are also several differences. In males, this ornament is more elongated and narrower than that of their girlfriends.
- An organ such as a turtle snail can also tell a knowing person a little. In females, it has the shape of an asterisk, and in males it is in the form of a longitudinal line.
- The tail is also able to tell the lover how to know the sex of his turtle. Female have a short tail and do not hide it under the shell. But the males try to hide it from prying eyes inward, although it is thicker, pointed and long.
Experienced owners also know other subtleties that are characteristic of a particular species. This may be the color of the eyes or the color of the nose, but the main signs we have described to you. We hope that you will not have any problems with how to determine the gender of the tortoise.