Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This will be my first turtle so I have just a couple questions.

1) Any tell-tale signs of what sex he/she is? I forgot to ask at the store and I'm not sure what I'm looking for.

2) Ever since he/she got home about a half hour ago he/she dived into the water and promptly sunk to the bottom. I expected a bit more grace, but then I know the turtles we see at the zoo aren't the same as the ones we get at pet stores. Still I'm concerned because he/she just had a little wading area in his cage at the pet store. I'm worried he/she might not know how to swim or how to get back on his island. Is it normal for a new turtle to crawl around at the bottom of the cage?

Very small turtles aren't sexable, but if your turtle is over 4 inches, males have long nails and a long tail, females have short stubby nails and short tails.

Mine will sink like rocks when I put them in their tanks at first, don't worry your turtle won't drown. They can stay underwater for a very long time. If your turtle was having trouble swimming he would be thrashing around at the top of the water.
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A mans got to do what a mans got to do. A woman has to do what he can't.

Mom to:

1 little boy born 7/19/04
2 male RES, born 2001
1 ribbon snake, age unknown
3 FBT, ages unknown
1 female bearded dragon, born 5/2002
1 male lab mix, born 5/24/03
1 female calico cat, born 6/7/04

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edited signature file; oversized graphic [phw 12/13/04]