# A few questions about Red Eared Sliders **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 10, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-red-eared-sliders/316367 "2005-08-10T00:13:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thin\_Lizzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@Thin\_Lizzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Lizzy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-red-eared-sliders/316367/1 "2005-08-10T00:13:51Z")
I have 2 RES. they are about a year old and are aproximately the same size. However one of the turtles has a tail about 4 times as large as the other turtles tail. Does this indicate he is a male and the other is a female? And if so, when do they start reproducing? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-red-eared-sliders/316367/2 "2005-08-10T01:11:01Z")
The male \*Trachemys scripta \* is usually smaller, with a much longer, thicker tail. The males also develop longer claws. Males become sexually mature at around 3 to 5 years of age, females at 5 to 7 years. ---
**Author:** ![CowPatty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@CowPatty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CowPatty)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-few-questions-about-red-eared-sliders/316367/3 "2005-08-10T04:31:20Z")
I have two RES that are around 3 years old. I found tons of helpful information about them [here.](http://www.turtleforum.com/forum/upload/index.php?)