It is not easy to be able to tell the difference between the sexes of any breed of turtle, and Snapping Turtles are no different, so it should probably only be done by an experienced turtle handler. If you want to try yourself then the first thing that you should know is that it is not possible to sex your Snapping Turtle until it is at least twelve months old. This is because they do not show any sexual characteristics until they reach the age when they can breed.
It is advisable to wear gloves when you are handling a Snapping Turtle to protect your hands from any bites or scratches. Leather ones are the best types because they are tough but thin and flexible enough for your hands to move.
The first thing that you need to do is to place your turtle onto a flat surface so that you can look at its shell. The shell of males tends to be flatter across the top than that of the females, which is more dome shaped and rounded.
Next, have a look at the nails of the turtle. Females’ nails are usually short and blunt, but males have sharper, longer claws. This is for two reasons: The first is because the male turtles are territorial, so they use their nails to defend against other turtles; and so they can hold onto the female’s shell during mating.
Finally, gently turn your turtle over onto its back and pull the tail away from the body so that you can see the vent opening on the underside of the tail. Female turtles have shorter tales, and the vent is situated closer to the body than the males. The mails have longer tails, and the vent is further from the body to enable him to wrap his tail under the female during mating.
It is advisable to wear gloves when you are handling a Snapping Turtle to protect your hands from any bites or scratches. Leather ones are the best types because they are tough but thin and flexible enough for your hands to move.
The first thing that you need to do is to place your turtle onto a flat surface so that you can look at its shell. The shell of males tends to be flatter across the top than that of the females, which is more dome shaped and rounded.
Next, have a look at the nails of the turtle. Females’ nails are usually short and blunt, but males have sharper, longer claws. This is for two reasons: The first is because the male turtles are territorial, so they use their nails to defend against other turtles; and so they can hold onto the female’s shell during mating.
Finally, gently turn your turtle over onto its back and pull the tail away from the body so that you can see the vent opening on the underside of the tail. Female turtles have shorter tales, and the vent is situated closer to the body than the males. The mails have longer tails, and the vent is further from the body to enable him to wrap his tail under the female during mating.