My turtle laid eggs—how do I tell its sex and hatch them?
Expert Answer
You can judge a turtle’s sex by its tail, cloaca, plastron, and reaction when pressing the limbs. First, look at the tail: the male’s tail is thicker with a triangular base, while the female’s is slender and strip-shaped. Also, the male’s cloaca is mid-tail and far from the rear plastron edge, shaped long, while the female’s is at the tail base near the edge, round.
Further, a concave, inward-curved plastron indicates male, while the female’s is flat. You can also gently press the limbs so they cannot extend; if the genital organ protrudes it is male, otherwise female.
Finally, only fertilized eggs can be hatched. For incubation, use vermiculite as bedding and keep it moist, place the egg in and cover with 2 cm of vermiculite, keep it in a dark place at 22–32°C (about 30°C is best), and avoid disturbance. For other hatching tips, ask turtle breeders or professionals.