Turtles Reproducing...question?

Question

We have 3 small turtles with red stripes on their necks. They're about as large as a half dollar, or a little bigger. We've had them for about 3 months.

Does anyone know...

How old are they when they mate?

How can you tell if they're male or female?

Do they lay eggs, and if so, how to take care of them, when do they hatch, etc?

They pile on top of each other all the time, and we don't know if they're mating or just snuggling. Sometimes, they're stacked 3 high! (Ok, ok, no jokes!)

Any turtle experts out there willing to advise me?

Thanks!

Amy N.

Answer 1

The turtle you describe are called red-ear sliders. They are just babies right now. In the wild, they breed around 4 years of age, but in captivity, they breed around 7 to 10 yrs. They will get grow very slowely. you can tell a male from a female, by their claws. Dunno which has what, but one has longer claws than the other. Best thing to do when you think they are ready to lay eggs, which will be several years, would be put them in a sand box, and just leave them in a warm, sunny place. In time they will hatch.

The turtles piling on each other is probably them trying to heat each other. turtles do that here in the wild on cool days, when trying to thermoregulate themselves.
Hope all this helped.

Answer 2

they will mate and breed when they mature at about 6-8", males are easily determined because they have long fingernails and they are smaller than the females, yes, they lay eggs and they take about3 months to hatch
you will need a large aquarium or outside pen and it will need to be 1/2 water and 1/2 dirt, if inside you will need heat lamp
be sure to give them a good diet, use plenty of live foods
get a good book about turtles

Answer 3

turtles, each and each of ways. i freakin love turtles and if i've got been given a puppy fish it would in basic terms irriitate me greater because of the fact i ultimately have been given a puppy and that i couldnt walk it or do something with it.