Other Turtle Discussion :: Is it a RES & other questions?

[SapphireTomoe]

Hello I have had my turtle for a few years noe and I have thought it was a RES this whole time but now I'm not so sure. If it isn't could you guys tell what it is?
Next question, can you guys tell if male or female?
Lastly, since it's very big now it's shell, on the large "diamond" shaped pieces on the top, shed like a finger nail. I am concerned this is not normal. Large think pieces fall off but, under is not soft and doesn't seem painful.

Will add pics ASAP posting from iPod touch and I can't add photos straight to the thing as an attachment with it :/

[michaelg]

RES are very distinctive. If it has a red patch where it's ears would be, then it is a RES. Can't really tell you without a photo. The easiest way to tell a male from a female is looking at its claws and its tail & cloaca. A male RES has long front claws to aid in mating where females have much sorter claws. On a male, the tail is longer and thicker and the cloaca is further out on the tail, where a female has a shorter tail and its cloaca is closer to the shell.

Post a picture and we can identify it.

-Michael

[SapphireTomoe]

Yeah I already said I was going to post pics from a computer cause my ipod doesn't let me attach anything, thats what I used to make my first post, I didn't realize I couldn't post pics with the ipod :/
But here he/she is.
It hard to see its colors though, my Ipod isn't very good at catching them. He does have an orange spot behind his ears, but I heard they can be orange if they don't get enough vitamins and minerals but I am more than sure my little buddy here does. He gets a wide variety of foods, and I use conditioners in his water. I mainly want to know what type of turtle he is so that I can be sure his habitat is alright. I know his dock is a little small for now but I did just spend a bunch on the tank, the filter, water treatment, a new basking lamp and a cover. He can get on his dock and be dry so I am not too worried for now. I really want to get him the XLarge Dock :3 It would make him so happy.

[SapphireTomoe]

More Photos

Have to link out to them, the site keeps telling me they are too big. They were taken with my Ipod, all of them so I am confused about the size thing.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/6866 ... a3ee_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7239/7013024405_b60d1daf1e.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7259/7013024317_3ce12cf8a2.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7137/7013024235_549ca7f6b4.jpg

[Gracie Turts]

looks like a yellow-bellied slider.
for sure, not a red-eared slider but albeit very similar to the y-b slider.

[Gracie Turts]

this might help: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=31472&hilit=cooter

[SapphireTomoe]

I am only curious, do the yellow Bellies have an occasional orange spot behind their ears? Mine does but its not a stripe (obviously lol) its kind of a hazy orange patch that can be really hard to see depending on the light. I think the best photo I put up in regards to the ears is the second link down in my previous post. But I hope the photos are good enough to provide a gender for me. I have been calling him Raphael because I thought it was a boy the whole time. If it turns out a girl it will have to be Raphaela because the name is already stuck, he kinda knows it and perks up when we talk to him, especially when we are just coming home from being gone most of the day.

[SapphireTomoe]

this might help: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=31472&hilit=cooter

My little dudes shell is no where near that smooth, he has lots of spikes toward the back and smaller grooving all around his shell similar to the RES(which is why I thought he was one in the first place), and instead of smoother and rounder patterns, they are like octagons and pentagons and they protrude to make a rough shell surface, instead of smooth like the one in the post you showed me. Unless it is common both ways then thank you. Thank you either way of course

[Gracie Turts]

not sure about the orange spot. sorry.

ay dios mio i thinks its a girl. a picture of the tail will get you an answer for sure though.

[SapphireTomoe]

Tail is gonna be a hard one, she? likes to look at me when I go near the tank XD and is almost impossible to sneak up on but I will try and see about posting a picture of it if I can sneak up and snap a quick one before she turns about.

[SapphireTomoe]

Tail, got some food that it liked and gave it a couple and she perked right up and turned around long enough for me to snap a quick one.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7013 ... 52e4ac.jpg

[penelope]

Well, I would definitely say its not a Red Ear Slider.
I am not sure about variations between species, but considering that I had a Mississippi Map and the male / female "rules" applied, this may help.
http://redearslider.com/determining_sex.html

I'm off on a little research hunt now....
Regardless, even if your guy is not a Red Ear Slider Slider, this site will still be helpful. A semi-aquatic turtle is a semi-aquatic turtle regardless of species.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!!

[penelope]

Did some searching - I agree with Gracie Turts - looks dead-on to a Yellow Bellied Slider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-bellied_slider

[michaelg]

It's definitely a Yellow Bellied Slider. The giveaway is the large yellow splotch behind the eyes. Considering the size of your turtle and how big the front claws are, I would say its a female.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the shape of the shell. Even in the wild, turtles' shells vary widely depending on their habitat and the availability of food.

-Michael