Diferences between sexes of Three Toes

[goodsmeagol]

Mine are asleep so no plastron shots, but as I was confirming the sex of my new Russian via the internet, I decided to look up the differences in three toes, I remember just vaguely from what I read when I did a lot of research.
I remember males are brighter, more often red?

This one I believe to be male?

And this the female.

 

[matt41gb]

The top picture is most likely male, the bottom definitely female. Males are usually, but not always more colorful than the females. The male's carapace is not as domed as a female. There will be a concavity to the plastron, and the tail will be much longer. Females seem to be more rounded, and robust. They will have no indention on the plastron. Some older females that have been bred a lot will have cavities on the back third of the carapace. This is from the male digging his front nails into her in an attempt to hold on during mating.

-Matt

 

[egyptiandan]

You can't always go by head color, eye color or plastral concavity in Three-toed box turtles. The best way to sex them is the size of the tail and the size of the back feet and legs. Both are bigger in males.
Actually the small pits you see on box turtle carapaces are caused by ticks looking for a meal.

Danny

 

[Kristina]

Judging by the face I would actually say the first one is female. Plastron shots are needed to say for sure.

 

[goodsmeagol]

Judging by the face I would actually say the first one is female. Plastron shots are needed to say for sure.

Uh ohh
The 'girl' is hiding, but the male was out so I just snapped his

Now I am worried I was not sold a 1.1 pair

 

[egyptiandan]

We need to see pictures of the tail and the back feet. Can't tell much from that picture.

Danny

 

[Maggie Cummings]

My male three-toed has big beefy back legs and longer curved claws then the female. But most often you need to see the cloaca. Males have it closer to the body and females have it more out on the tail...or the other way around
But the first picture is a very pretty turtle no matter what sex he is...or isn't...

 

[goodsmeagol]

We need to see pictures of the tail and the back feet. Can't tell much from that picture.

Danny

How about these?

 

[Kristina]

Looks like a female to me Yvonne and Danny???

 

[Millerlite]

are there two differnet turtles in those pictures? first one looks female. last one looks male,

 

[egyptiandan]

I agree with Kristina Thats a female all the way

Danny

 

[matt41gb]

You can't always go by head color, eye color or plastral concavity in Three-toed box turtles. The best way to sex them is the size of the tail and the size of the back feet and legs. Both are bigger in males.
Actually the small pits you see on box turtle carapaces are caused by ticks looking for a meal.

Danny

Danny, I usually agree with you 100%. I don't understand what you said about ticks trying to get through the carapace for a blood mean. I will have to disagree with you on that one.

Ticks would not waste their time trying to get through keratin and bone when they could travel to the soft tissue for easy access. I have found many ticks on box turtles and tortoises, all have been around the neck and legs.

You never find these pits on wild male box turtles. I have found hundreds out in East Texas and every older female had these, no males ever did.

I've seen males when they mate place their front claws in that exact place. The just wear down more and more over the years. It makes perfect sense if you think about it.

Why don't the pits ever occur anywhere else on the carapace?

-Matt

 

[goodsmeagol]

are there two differnet turtles in those pictures? first one looks female. last one looks male,

Yes 2 turts.
first 2 - the one sold as male
last pic - sold as female

 

[egyptiandan]

Yes they are both females.

Danny