determining the sex of a snapping turtle?

Question

We've had a common snapping turtle for almost 3 years now, and we have never met anyone who could tell us what sex it was. We just want to know out of curiosity. Does anyone know how you determine a snapper's sex?

Answer 1

It's very hard to sex snappers, but the vent-location method (mentioned by the first answerer) should work.

You can't tell anything about a snapper by the shape of its plastron (the bottom shell). In many turtle species, the males have a curved plastron to fit over the female during mating, but this isn't necessary with snappers because they have such a small plastron in the first place.

Answer 2

To determine the sex of your common snapper you must take the turtle out of the water and ask it a series of questions. The first and most important question is if the turtle likes to dance. If the turtle answers yes there is a good possibility she is a female. Secondly, ask the turtle its favorite color, if the turtle responds with pink, taupe, or fucia it is again most likely a female. And thirdly, play any Ana DeFranco for the turtle and if the turtle likes this it is most assuredly a female and will bite.

Answer 3

The shape of the bottom half of a turtle's shell can usually let you know. A male's lower shell is concave while a female's is flat. This allows a male to perch more easily on a female's back while mating.

Answer 4

Where is the vent on the tail? If near the base it is a female. if in about the middle, it is a male.

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