You need to know the gender of your turtles in order to provide proper care. An increase in the number of yellow-bellied male turtles can lead to problems as they compete for female attention. To maintain the correct ratio you must first be able tell if a yellowbellied turtle is male and female.
Let’s talk about how to tell the difference.
How to tell if a Yellow-Bellied Turtle is male or female?
Female yellow-bellied turtles are bigger than their male counterparts. However, they have longer tails and sharper claws. Also, the plastrons of male yellow-bellied turtles are concave-shaped when turned upside down. Females, on the other hand, have flat plastrons that provide more space for eggs to be housed.
This is where I go into detail to help you determine if your yellow-bellied turtle’s male or female.
Female Yellow-bellied Turtles are larger than males
When their shells measure 3 inches long, male yellow-bellied turtles can be considered adults. Females, on the other hand, must have shells that measure 6 inches.
Females can weigh as much as 7 pounds.
If you have two yellow-bellied tortoises of the same age and they are different in size, the larger one will probably be a male.
But, size alone is not enough to distinguish male turtles from female turtles. Under the right care, some male turtles can grow large and some females are smaller than normal.
It is impossible to tell whether a yellow-bellied turtle’s male or female just by comparing their size.
Melanism Occurs In Older Males
As turtles age, their males develop melanism. It can be seen prominently in the carapace region and plastron of the shell. It is quite common for them to become completely black as the melanism thickens.
These phenomena are more common in females.
Females Have Flat Plastron, And Males Have Concave Plastron
Checking the plastron is another way to distinguish the sexes of yellow belly turtles. Plastron is the shell at the bottom that protects your turtle’s stomach.
Plastron checking requires gentle handling. You shouldn’t roughhandle turtles. Picking turtles with care is essential. You should hold them in the lower part of their carapace near their tail.
The turtle will not be able to reach you and bite you. Now slowly flip the turtle and observe its underside.
Yellow-bellied male yellow-bellied turtles have slightly concave plastrons, while females have flat ones. The concave plastron allows males to climb up over the carapace of a female while mating.
Females will have more space in their wombs to hold eggs if the flat plastron is used. This is one of the most important points that can help determine sex differences between yellow-bellied turtles.
Tail Notch Is Wider In Males
The rear end of the carapace is wider for male yellow-bellied turtles. Unfortunately, sites have misinformed their readers about this sign that distinguishes male from female yellow-bellied turtles.
The tail of male turtles begins at the U-shaped end of the carapace.
Females, on the other hand have a smaller V-shaped nose.
Shape and Size Of The Tail Are Different
Males have a thicker, longer tail than females. Males also have a penis in the middle of their tails. The tails of females are shorter and more thin, beginning at the “V” notch at their carapace’s ends.
You shouldn’t rely solely on the length of the tail to determine if your turtles are males or females. Age and size can contradict your judgement.
Position Of Cloaca Is Different
Both males as well as females have a Cloaca. Male turtles must insert their penis in the female’s Cloaca. The female’s Cloaca is located externally at the tail.
The cloaca of a female is located underneath her tail and at the base.
The shape of the Cloaca can also vary depending on which gender your yellow-bellied Turtle is. The cloaca of females is a star-shaped, while that of males is small and round.
Evolution has suggested that the reason females have larger cloaca amounts is because they need to lay eggs through them. While the cloaca found in males is used for covering their penis.
Males Have Larger Claws Than Females
You can tell the difference between a male and a female yellow-bellied slider turtle by looking at their claws.
Males have longer, more elongated claws than females.
Males have prominent claws, which they use to attract potential mates. During mating, males will use their claws to climb on females. This is similar to how mountaineers use an Iceaxe when on expedition.
You now know the importance of their long nails for the survival of their species.
Basking Season For Male And Female Is Different
The male yellow-bellied turtles bask in September and October, according to research. This raises their body temperature and increases testosterone, thus increasing quality and sperm count.
However, female yellow-bellied turtles bask in May and June. This behavior is not known.
This is a distinction I made, but the basking pattern depends on where your turtles are kept.
These behaviors might not be seen in captive turtles because they are kept in artificial environments. This behavior is not common in wild turtles.
Adult Females Are More Carnivorous
A key distinction between male yellow-bellied turtles and their diet preferences is another. These subtleties might be apparent if you have male and female yellow-bellied Turtles.
In 1999, Michael J. Dreslik (Ph.D.) first noticed this. Dreslik discovered that male adult sliders eat more plants than females. Females had more freshwater invertebrates and mollusks than their male counterparts.
This indicates that yellow-bellied turtles are more likely to eat carnivorous food than their male counterparts.
As they age, it is not unusual for turtles to eat more plants. However, the reason females become more carnivorous as they age is to meet their calcium needs, which is vital during nesting.
Subtleties In Mating Habits
You will notice a difference in mating season if you keep males and females together. The male turtle will begin courting the female turtle and try his best to impress her.
The male will then approach the female and stretch his forelimbs. He will also display his long claws so that she can climb his shell. He will then try to make water currents using his claws, and touch her head. This is an intimate sign that the male will give to the female.
The female turtle will then swim to the bottom with the male turtle riding her. During mating, the male will hold onto the shell of his female with his long claws and keep it in place.
Both turtles make sounds that can be heard by us, and they both moan. It usually lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. The entire session can last approximately 45 minutes.
Combining Several Features
A hobbyist will have difficulty determining the gender of yellow-bellied turtles. If the turtles are still babies, it will be even more difficult. Only when the turtles are adults can you see the real difference.
When the differences between their sexes can be clearly seen, this is when they are separated. You will see the differences in their claws, heads, tail sizes, and behavior.
As you begin to notice the differences, you will need to combine multiple findings. Only then can you determine if a yellow-bellied tortoise is male or female.
How To Tell If A Baby Yellow Bellied Turtle Is Male Or Female?
If your baby turtles aren’t yet adults, it will be difficult to tell the difference between the sexes. You can however make an educated guess based on the position of the cloaca.
Cloaca found below the base of the tail is a sign that it is a female. A male’s cloaca can be found in the middle of his tail.
This method can’t tell the difference between male and female baby yellowbellied turtles. Asking the importer or breeder where your turtles came from will make it easier. This will allow you to distinguish the two species as they grow into adults.
Conclusion On How To Tell If A Yellow-Bellied Turtle Is Male Or Female
Although male and female yellow-bellied Turtles may look the same in the juvenile stage of development, their distinctive features will emerge as adults.
Pay attention to your turtle’s behavior and appearance. You can identify male and female yellowbellied turtles by their shell size and shape.
It can be more difficult to determine the age of a baby yellowbellied turtle than it is for an adult. Baby turtles can be used to determine basic differences. If you’re still unsure about the gender of your turtles, ask your supplier or vet.