I should have added, like Rattay, that the turtle in the original post is very pretty.

My three toeds can have the appearance of being female up until they approach 5 inches. It is amazing...they will "go to bed" in the fall as a female and wake up in the Spring and start developing male characteristics. One clear sign to watch for is an overall coloration burst in the head and neck area. Females tend to maintain their coloration from about 3 inches to adulthood. But, males brighten considerably as they approach sexual maturity. Of course, there are frequent exceptions. I have occasionally been unsure of an individual's sex until it either mounted another or laid eggs!

The ornates are stunning! You have done a fantastic job with them. I would say that the first animal is most certainly female. The second looks a bit boyish in the face. They appear to be still growing, so keep an eye on that one for an elongating tail, an inner rear toe that curves inward, and a greening of the head. There is something about the gaze of a male ornate...their eyes look almost sinister. It could be the picture angle, but I'm sensing it in the second turtle.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

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