Many people ask us how old our Red-eared slider turtle turtle is. However, if we don’t know the date of its hatching, there’s no way to tell. There are very few ways to determine age and they can be quite accurate.
How Old is My Red-Eared Slider Turtle?
Although there is no way to determine the exact age of a turtle, certain signs can help you make an educated guess. Red-eared slider turtles’ tentative age can be determined by the size and color of their carapaces, as well as the number of rings inside the turtle’s stomach. Also, it is possible to determine the size of the claws and the amount of rings.
Although none of these methods will guarantee a perfect result, they will allow you to get a good understanding of your turtle so you can take proper care of it.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle’s Color
One of the best ways to determine the age is by observing the turtle’s coloring. Your Red-eared sliders will be dazzling when they are young. This shade is often Kelly green with light yellow markings. This color can last from six months to one year.
The bright colors fade after about a year and become a slightly duller olive color.
As the turtle gets darker, the distinctive red markings between the ears fade. The shells will also have a brownish or ochre color.
Discolorations and chips can also be indicators of a turtle’s long life. It could also be caused by a single tumble from the tank.
Counting Red-Eared Slider’s Rings
One of the most fascinating methods of determining the age of a Red-eared slider is to count rings. Because the rings were formed during feast and famine periods, it is possible to count the number of rings present in each scute.
This means that the rings formed when the turtle was full or starving, rather than different seasons such as summer and winter.
Let’s now see how to count the rings and determine how old your Red-eared slider Turtle is.
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How To Count Rings In A Red-Eared Slider’s Shell?
There are two types of rings that form in the scutes: a wider ring of one color and a smaller ring of another. The larger rings are believed to reflect the duration of a feast while the smaller ones represent the times of famine.
In general, feasts fall in summer and famines occur in winter.
If you take the total number and divide it by 2, then you can get an estimate of the age of the turtle.
You must ensure that you are looking for the rings exactly. It is not possible to count the number of scutes.
Let’s say that your turtle has 16 rings total. Divide 16 by 2 to get 8. According to the number of scute ring, your turtle’s age is 8.
This method is not as accurate for mature turtles, however.
The rings of older turtles are smaller and more closely related. It is almost impossible to determine the exact number of rings in an older turtle.
Measuring Turtle’s Carapace
A Red-eared slider turtle is a tiny, one-inch shell. The carapace will grow by at least 4 inches by the time the turtle turns two. The carapace should be between 6-8 inches by age 4.
The turtle’s carapace grows as it ages and can grow to 12-13 inches over its lifetime. It is impossible to tell the age just by size.
Measuring Turtle’s Claws
It is a clever and unusual way to calculate age. After reaching the age of 2, a male Red-eared slider turtle develops enormous claws and tails. The claws of a male Red-eared slider turtle are sharp and prickly between the ages 2 and 2.
As the turtle ages, however, their claws will become shorter and more blunt.
You can also examine the claws to determine your pet’s approximate age.
Examining Turtle’s Bone
This isn’t something you can do at home. However, scientists have used a method called Skeletochronology for years to determine the age of sea turtles. According to some reports, turtle bones contain annual rings that can be counted in order to determine their age.
However, Dr. Brian Wallace from the Sea Turtle Conservation Organization revealed that this technique produces’mixed results’.
The accuracy of the results depends on the species of turtle and the bone structure. Skeletochronology, for example, yielded very accurate results for Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle species.
However, results for Leatherback sea turtles were not impressive. We don’t know how this will work for Red-eared slider turtles.
Asking The Breeder
This one seems obvious, I know. Most of the time, however, if your turtle was purchased from a breeder, pet shop or other source, they will be able to provide all information regarding the date of birth as well as the breed history.
Before a turtle can legally be sold in a pet shop, it must be at least 2 years old. This is a good place for you to begin calculating your turtle’s age.
Conclusion On How Old Is My Red-eared Slider Turtle
It is impossible to accurately determine your Red-eared sliders age unless you know their date of birth. As we have discussed, there are several techniques that can be used to estimate the approximate age. This is surprising considering the truth.
The most popular method of determining the age is to calculate the number of rings in each scute and divide it by 2.
It is also common to assess the condition and appearance of the shell. Younger turtles are more likely to be brightly colored than older ones.
The best way to determine the age of a Red-eared slider is to examine the condition of the claws and the size the carapace.
This handbook will help you become an expert on the Rd-Eared Slider turtle.
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