Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone, I have just acquired 2 european ponds, and noticed that they both have long tails, but one of the tails is much thicker than the other. Also the turt with teh thicker tail has a yellow ring in the eye, while the other one does not, but does have some yellow. Could this be a male and female??

Thanks Matt

In all the "emys" turtles (orbicularis, blandingi and marmorata...if you accept this as a genus) both the male and female have long tails. But the males tail is thicker. As for the eyes it is not always the case theat the females have yellow eyes. And furthermore, sometimes juveniles have yellowish eyes whose color fades. I would say they are unsexable until at least four inches long. Many (but not all) males have very pronounced plastral concavities.

see a male and a female here