How to tell my slider turtle's sex? Will two male or female fight?

Males have longer front claws and a longer, thicker tail. Determining sex can be difficult in turtles measuring less than 4 inches. Consider separating the turtles until the smaller one is larger. Sliders can be quite territorial and a larger turtle may injure a significantly smaller one.

Separate out the aggressive one. It could be nipping due to hunger, stress or aggression. Consider hand feeding to avoid accidental bites as well as dividing them into two tanks to provide more space. As they mature, they will require a significantly larger space. This number of turtles ideally will need a tank in the hundreds of gallons range or a small pond. A general guideline is 10 gallons per inch of turtle. Sexing turtles is easier when they are mature. Without knowing the species, it can be difficult, but in general, females are larger than males. Males have a shorter, thicker tail in comparison and usually have longer front claws. A female will have a flat plastron whereas the male will have a slight concavity. Males have a v-notch at the rear of the carapace to accommodate the tail when mating. Lastly, you can check the cloaca, or vent. Females will have a rounder vent closer to the body whilst males will have more of a slit farther down under the tail. All these differences are best seen when comparing two turtles or a proven pair.

Thanks for your question about Bolt. Having multiple turtles together can lead to some problems, as males can be aggressive to both other males and to females, depending on the time of year. Males don't tend to get along with each other once they hit sexual maturity, and you may end up with injuries or the need for two tanks. Males will typically only be aggressive to females in the breeding season, but the same issues can arise depending on how aggressive the male is being. As far as determining sex, it is difficult to tell visually what sex they are until they are a bit older and getting closer to sexual maturity. There are other techniques that can be utilized such as endoscopic sexing, however you would need to consult with a veterinarian to have this procedure performed. I hope that provides you with some information, and often turtles will do quite well when they are kept alone.

Thanks for reaching out about Bob Luigi and including a photo. Males typically have two differences than females, but sometimes difficult to determine. Males tend to have very long front nails. Males also have longer, more narrow tails, where the females have shorter tails and the cloaca is at the edge of the shell. Good luck.

You should separate them. When confined in a tank or other small area, red ear sliders (RES) can exhibit a dominating behavior towards other tank mates. Turtles can easily injure one another with their bites. Males may endlessly pursue females which is probably what is happening with yours. Harassment can escalate to serious aggression such as fighting which can result in cuts, loss of limbs or even death. Adding a new turtle may immediately cause aggression and bullying, while some turtles harass more after they develop sexually. Males seem to be more likely to fight each other and harass females. Wish I had an easier solution for you but separating them would be best.

If the tank is large enough, the two could be kept IF they get along. Musk turtles can be aggressive, even with other musk turtles, so you'll need to monitor for any aggression. That said, if there is a significant size difference, they should be separated for the safety of both of them. You may find the smaller one will eat better and grow more if housed alone. Males can be differentiated from females by comparing tails. Males will have a thicker, longer tale than females. You can confirm species specific environmental parameters by reading the article at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Common-Musk-Turtle-Care-And-Information/

I wouldn't recommend keeping a smaller turtle with a larger turtle. Oscar would harass or try to eat the smaller turtle. Red eared sliders can be quite territorial and aggressive towards other sliders. If you have a huge tank, say over 100 gallons, it *may* work. If you are set on having another turtle, look for one that is similar in size. The problem with mixing species is that there may be care and environmental differences that you may not be able to overcome in order to provide adequate care to both species.