Anybody know this one? I believe that Randel is a female. Claws are short and so is tail. I'm definitely not ready for that to happen. Thanks.
Mating age
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If I'm remembering correctly, the two RES are both about 4" in a straight line from front to back??
You MIGHT be able to see the longer claws on the male's front feet at 4", but usually they would have to be a bit bigger to tell.
The male has a longer, fatter tail with the cloaca (vent) further away from the body, and really, really long front claws.
The female has a short tail, is usually bigger than the male and has short front claws.
If you DO have a male and a female, it would be a good idea to either separate them or try to find someone who will trade one sex with you so you end up with two of the same sex. RES are likened to feral cats, in that they are prolific breeders and you will soon be over run with too many babies to find homes for.
I would say it won't be too long now that you will know what sexes you have. 4" is about the jumping off point.
You MIGHT be able to see the longer claws on the male's front feet at 4", but usually they would have to be a bit bigger to tell.
The male has a longer, fatter tail with the cloaca (vent) further away from the body, and really, really long front claws.
The female has a short tail, is usually bigger than the male and has short front claws.
If you DO have a male and a female, it would be a good idea to either separate them or try to find someone who will trade one sex with you so you end up with two of the same sex. RES are likened to feral cats, in that they are prolific breeders and you will soon be over run with too many babies to find homes for.
I would say it won't be too long now that you will know what sexes you have. 4" is about the jumping off point.
Thanks Yvonne. On the redearslider.com is where i read about the sexes. And they are exactly as you described. Man I can't afford 'babies' or another enclosure. Randel is a little over 4" ugh, so much for trying to help out. LOL Start off as a foster parent to two and end up a daycare center. I'll check with my local exotic pet store, she said she might be interested when i told her i was taking them in. Maybe she'll take one. You say like feral cats, how young can they mate? And guessing by their size, do you know thier approx age?
The males will mature sooner than the females, but if he's starting to show his male characteristics, then he's probably able to breed. She will probably have to be a bit bigger.
okay, so holidays over. big YAY from me. This morning when i went in to check on the RES and the rest of the gang. I find Little T doing his claw waving in front of Randel (whom i renaming). I really don't have the means to separate them, or properly have an area for her to nest. Which i'm really not wanting to encourage anyhow. LOL So they'll just lay them and not harbor them inside like i've read on the website? I don't want her to harm herself incase they do mate. Yikes so stressful. I've been diggin out the back yard garden area to create a living pond. It just may be a couple months b4 its done. any suggestions would be great. Thanks. ps i'm at work all day so it's hard to keep an eye on them and their behavior. I did kindly explain to her that she doesn't have to give in, but thinking she wasn't paying very close attention. LOL
BabyBsober said:
Randal can be now known as Randi with a heart over the eye or written in purple.
Get yourself a few large preforms and some decorative fencing and make a pen for the turtles outside. There they can catch fish and eat worms. Maybe in a mulch pile they could lay some eggs. Meanwhile, pond plants will soften the new waterlines.
I have heard stories of female RES retaining eggs but in my exp (nearly 30 years of RES) My female sjust plop them in the water and then chow time. Once in awhile I will go outside and see them trying to dig on their basking rocks.
dmmj said:
Thanks, that takes a bit of the stress off. OFF SUBJECT-I would like to ask, how long can they stay out of the water? I like to let them run around the back yard (with a close eye watching), jsut because it's been so nice here lately. Just hope the "dry time" isn't too long.
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