Sexing?

[magscat]

I know I keep coming up with stupid questions but it seems like the more information I find the more I start noticing "things" and then I start having questions. I know you guys have IDed mine as florida soft shells but now I'm wondering if I might have a male and a female.

I know sexual dimorphism is not uncommon. The turtle with the lighter colored plastron is larger in diameter by about an inch.

 

[egyptiandan]

Way to small to sex Yes females do get bigger than males, but not yet. I'm afraid also that as they get bigger they won't look anything like they did as little guys. So enjoy them now because in no time you will wake up one day and wonder who switched your nice looking hatchlings with plain looking big turtles.

Danny

 

[magscat]

I didn't acquire them with the thought in mind of "golly turtles are cute I think I'll get a random pair" lol In all honesty I think they're rather ugly now! XD I'm just trying to get as many facts together as I can on this species. I read some where that female florida soft shells need a 600gallon enclosure. There's nothing I like more than digging up my back yard to put in another pond but I need all the facts to convince the hubby that that's the right thing to do lol

 

[PeanutbuttER]

I didn't acquire them with the thought in mind of "golly turtles are cute I think I'll get a random pair" lol In all honesty I think they're rather ugly now! XD

Actually, they look kinda cute to me

 

[magscat]

They are cute in a turtle kind of way (certainly not in a fluffy bunny kind of way lol). But I also know that this is going to be a big animal with special needs greater than many species commonly kept. It really ticks me off when people get something b/c it's little and cute. Like the lady who owned them before me. I asked her why she got them and she said "B/c they're cute". It makes my head want to explode when I hear that crap. If people are going to take on the responsibility of another life they had darn well better be prepared to meet it's needs. If not then leave the darn thing in the wild!...ok rant over. I'm climbing off the soap box! lol