Marking water turtles

jcase

Well-Known Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Messages
402
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsboro, NC
Can anyone recommend a paint to mark water turtles with? I have always used paint pens, posco etc but with aquatics my the markings are just not lasting at all.
 

jeff kushner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Messages
2,688
Location (City and/or State)
North of Annapolis
No paint! The pros up in Nova Scotia cut very small wedges from the rear , to the side of the exact center. Very small....ie: 1/8th inch in depth. Saw a documentary they made on YouTube....source.

I kept multiple 50 gallon tanks full of water turtles for decades and never had a problem telling them apart. but that was up close in tanks so it might be a lot more difficult in a pond.

Wait for some of the local talent to chime in....they know better than i.
 

turtlesteve

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Messages
711
I always thought nail polish was the gold standard but I have no idea how it holds up on aquatic turtles
 

Markw84

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 17, 2012
Messages
5,041
Location (City and/or State)
Sacramento, CA (Central Valley)
The issue with aquatics is that most all of them shed. Any markings will be shed off when they do. The only more permanent option I've seen work is either notching marginals (Which I don't like and don't do) or put in one of the smaller PIT tags. If they are rare and you are tracking bloodlines, would be worth it to learn that.
 

jcase

Well-Known Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Messages
402
Location (City and/or State)
Pittsboro, NC
The issue with aquatics is that most all of them shed. Any markings will be shed off when they do. The only more permanent option I've seen work is either notching marginals (Which I don't like and don't do) or put in one of the smaller PIT tags. If they are rare and you are tracking bloodlines, would be worth it to learn that.
I've tagged mammals and snakes but not turtles. Seems like a good solution
 

turtlesteve

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Messages
711
The issue with aquatics is that most all of them shed. Any markings will be shed off when they do. The only more permanent option I've seen work is either notching marginals (Which I don't like and don't do) or put in one of the smaller PIT tags. If they are rare and you are tracking bloodlines, would be worth it to learn that.
Depends. Only some aquatic turtles shed scutes, but it includes all the new world sliders, map turtles, terrapins. Most other aquatic turtle families don't shed.
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Nail polish mark on a 3 year old russian. I got him as a baby from CarolS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2291.jpeg
    IMG_2291.jpeg
    521.1 KB · Views: 2

New Posts

Top