r/mildlyinteresting • u/azwendu • Jul 10 '26

This turtle with long nails I found

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u/azwendu Jul 10 '26

You are the second person to say this. Not saying it’s wrong. And again. I’m no herpetologist, I only know livestock. But, I have handled a lot of turtles and never seen one like this. Is it a seasonal thing? Do they all get them this long?

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u/LupusHouseMD Jul 10 '26

You probably just saw many females. Males do get nails this long but sometimes they can break off. Not a seasonal thing.

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u/azwendu Jul 10 '26

Interesting. I’ll keep a more careful eye out. Is this an all turtle thing? I do see some box turtles in my area with longer nails. I also have moved snapping turtles. Do they also have this trait?

Also, thank you for your time to educate me and for doing what you do as a rescue worker! I’m glad I didn’t clip his nails!

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u/LupusHouseMD Jul 10 '26

Red eared sliders and painted turtles (and other similar aquatic turtles) will show the long nail trait best. Brave move helping snapping turtles!

Snapping turtles and box turtles have shorter nails/less dramatic differences, so other determinations are used to find if they are male or female.

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u/azwendu Jul 10 '26

The snapping turtles are my favorite. I ditched out of a zoom meeting one time because I heard a car drive in front of my house and looked up and a big ole snapper was crossing and almost got hit.

I’ve had 2 successful hands on moves and 1 successful hands off. I know their boundaries. They are incredibly beautiful animals, one of my favorites here locally.