Terrapin Questions

[Terrapin]

Hi,

I recently got two baby Yellow Belly Terrapins, and they are about two inches long. I was wondering if someone could guide me on what size theyll be in around 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5, and 10. I know how big they can get, and was told they reach full growth, of 12 inches female, at 12 years. (For both male and female?)

Also, you know the way tortoises can roam about your garden and explore etc, could you supervise a Terrapin to do so?

Finally, how can you tell the sex of the Terrapins, and can you do so if theyre babies? (Are they like tortoises? Where you cant tell till theyre a bit older?)

Thanks.

[James_T]

Growth rate depends hugely on feeding, in captivity most people offer the equivalent of several times what they'd get in the wild. However with "average" feeding they should be about 3" in shell length at a year old. They slow down shortly after that, and may grow less than an inch in the subsequent twelve months. Males max out at about 9", and females around 12". Apparently they never really stop growing, just slow down to the point it's barely noticeable.

I'd strongly advise against letting the turtles roam, bear in mind they're aquatic creatures that rarely move far from the safety of the waters edge. Supervised or not, the turt is likely feeling stressed, and looking for water or somewhere else to hide.

It's highly difficult, especially for someone to try and tell you how over the internet, to sex YBS much before they're around 4" in shell length. At this size the males will be developing obviously longer & thicker tails, and their front claws will eventually grow to half an inch or so. Obviously the bigger they get, the easier it is to sex them, at adult size, males have a significantly smaller build than the females.



Just to give you a size scale. Here's a picture of a hatchling RES, sitting on an adult females back. Your YBS reach identical proportions.

[Geomyda]

Originally Posted by James_T

Growth rate depends hugely on feeding, in captivity most people offer the equivalent of several times what they'd get in the wild. However with "average" feeding they should be about 3" in shell length at a year old. They slow down shortly after that, and may grow less than an inch in the subsequent twelve months. Males max out at about 9", and females around 12". Apparently they never really stop growing, just slow down to the point it's barely noticeable.

I'd strongly advise against letting the turtles roam, bear in mind they're aquatic creatures that rarely move far from the safety of the waters edge. Supervised or not, the turt is likely feeling stressed, and looking for water or somewhere else to hide.

It's highly difficult, especially for someone to try and tell you how over the internet, to sex YBS much before they're around 4" in shell length. At this size the males will be developing obviously longer & thicker tails, and their front claws will eventually grow to half an inch or so. Obviously the bigger they get, the easier it is to sex them, at adult size, males have a significantly smaller build than the females.



Just to give you a size scale. Here's a picture of a hatchling RES, sitting on an adult females back. Your YBS reach identical proportions.

Great post! All pet shops, Garden Centres and other retail outlets should be forced to maintain ADULT Slider Cooter Turtles in order that they show prospective purchasers, what exactly these delightful little babies grow into?

[sophs87]

yes they should, but the purchaser should do enough reaserch into the pet they are buying to.
i was in a rep shop yesterday and i overheard the salesman telling a couple with two children that two bearded dragons could live in a 2ft viv fo the rest of their lives.......now i dont know much about these but know this wasnt right, and also the smaller the housing the less they will grow.

[Geomyda]

Does'nt this just highlight the ignorance surrounding much of the retail activity.
The shame is, that there are many books and publications, and of course on line sources where this information can be found.

[Terrapin]

Thanks, I just wanted to know how fast they will grow. Cant wait till they are full size.

[sophs87]

Originally Posted by Geomyda

Does'nt this just highlight the ignorance surrounding much of the retail activity.
The shame is, that there are many books and publications, and of course on line sources where this information can be found.

most people belive the so called 'experts' in the pet shops though!
they have no reason to doubt them....its a shame!!