I also work with this species of turtle which is my favorite of the aquatic turtles. They stay small and are very personable. They are sexually dimorphic in several ways. The males have a dark beak and facial features and darker orange or red markings on the neck and front legs. The males have a concave plastron for ease in mounting females. Distinguishing females can be equally simple; being generally lighter in color than the males. Females have a much lighter beak and face with light orange or yellow spots and patches on the head and neck. Females are more flat or rounded on their plastrons. Babies tend to be very dark at first and lighten up and flatten out as they age. Their spots also seem to be pigmentation that occurs later as the neonates mature. All though accurate sexing while small is difficult, it is possible to arrange the sex ratio of the clutch. Turtle eggs are temperature specific in the sex of the offspring produced. My group currently consists of 1.3 adults and several juveniles. I consider myself still quite the amateur turtle keeper. This turtle species has new regulations regarding collecting and maintaining in captivity. Please make sure your state allows the spotted turtle to be kept in captivity with the appropriate sources before purchasing any offspring from me. Please see my links page for more spotted turtle info.

 

Protection Status:

Endangered: Indiana and Illinois

Threatened: Maine, Vermont, Michigan; 

State species of special concern:  New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, South Carolina, and Georgia. 

Possession and/or harvesting regulations: North Carolina and West Virginia.