Box Turtle Male or Female

[fbsmith3]

Ok my three toed box turtle Cleo, I've always thought she was female. Picture of my wife holding her today. I've noticed today that Cleo's eyes are kind of a reddish brown.

I was just sent pictures the "male" box turtle I am to pick up Sunday, could he be female too? His eyes are reddish brown.
Also has anyone seen a shell with such deep lines between scutes?

 

[dmarcus]

Both turtles are males..

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Both turtles are males..

Forgot to add that adult males have red eyes while females eyes stay brown..

 

[Yvonne G]

You can't always judge the sex of a box turtle by the color of the eyes. Without being able to see the back legs or the tail, I'm guessing the one with the hat on is female and the other is male.

The deep grooves were probably caused by some sort of injury or infection when the turtle was in the growing stage of life. It is old and not a problem at this time.

 

[dmarcus]

I was under the impression and everything I have read said that 3-toed and ornate males will always have the red eyes and the females are brown.

 

[Yvonne G]

Those are both 3-toe, and sometimes the females will have red eyes. What you've read about eye color may have said something like, "...usually males have red eyes."

 

[dmarcus]

Those are both 3-toe, and sometimes the females will have red eyes. What you've read about eye color may have said something like, "...usually males have red eyes.

Alrighty I have learned something new.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I have a female 3 toed and a female Ornata and both have red eyes and both are undoubtedly female...You learn something new every day Marcus

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Yes, I find eye color the least definitive mark of a male or female. I look at the eyes, tails, concavity, and dome shape overall to make the call. I would say the first one is female. It's harder to tell with the second one. Maybe you could post a pic of his/her plastron, tail, and from the side so we can see how domed he/she is. My guess right now is male though. I wish you were closer - I have several three toeds that need homes.

 

[terryo]

http://www.gctts.org/files/SexingBoxTurtles2.pdf

Here's a great site with pictures to show you the difference. I also have a beautiful female with red eyes, which I thought was a male.

 

[yagyujubei]

I'm going to say that Cleo is a girl, and the new one gives me the impression of being a male. I think he has probably been kept pretty dry, and maybe that caused the deep scute margins.

 

[Yvonne G]

Another thing to look at that I wish they'd mentioned in Terryo's link is the back legs/feet on the male, which are pretty big/broad compared to female legs.

 

[Candy]

Now I'm confused. Doesn't it say in Terry's post that the male has the color in the face and legs? If that is the case then I would think that the first one is a male and the second would be a female.

 

[fbsmith3]

Cleo is weird for a turtle, she likes to be held by my wife, I never even noticed the silly hat. I will try and find some tail, hind end pictures of Cleo.

The new one I am really hoping it's a girl. As my wife told me, I don't want a lot of baby boxies running around the yard. Honestly I don't think Cleo will be too willing to "socialize" with a male.

 

[Saloli]

my females have red or red brown eyes my males have pink or pinkish eyes. though i've known males with red eyes and females with pink babies mostly brown though

 

[fbsmith3]

More pictures Box Turtle,

 

[zesty_17]

both look like males to me, but without looking at the tail, it is hard to say for sure.

 

[yagyujubei]

New pics: That's a female.

 

[kimber_lee_314]

Yes, the new pictures are of a female.

 

[fbsmith3]

Here is the new Boxie I just picked up;

 

[kimber_lee_314]

This one looks like a female as well.