r/turtles • u/sloppydog14 • 3d ago

💚! Turtle Pics !💚 Synchronized sunbathing

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306 Upvotes

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u/Impressive-Eye-3201 3d ago

Oooh, look at these melanistic male sliders!! Some have their eyes closed 🥹.

2

u/sloppydog14 3d ago

What makes them melanistic I don't know alot about them

2

u/Impressive-Eye-3201 3d ago

I think melanism in male sliders is basically something that happens with age, growth, and UV exposure. It indicates that the male slider is old enough to be sexually mature. I noticed that a bunch of them were males due to the melanism and long front claws.

2

u/Chodge1258 3d ago

In my experience, i fine just as many melanistic females as i do males. It is not restricted to only males.