Sexing juvenile Triturus marmoratus

[michael]

I have had a few people ask to order pairs of juvenile T. marmoratus. I know some say the females have a more pronounced red or orange stripe than the males as juveniles. I have also heard that juvenile males have more black coloration than females. The answer I have given to sexing juvenile is that these methods are not accurate. I have a hard enough time sexing sub adult Triturus marmoratus.


What do you think. Can juvenile T. marmoratus be accurately sexed?

 

[evut]

I have very limited experience but would say that you can only distinguish the sexes once the stripe starts to change. I have four juveniles - out of two very similar looking newts, one turned out to be a male and one a female. The colouration is almost identical.

 

[FRANCOIS]

I have very limited experience but would say that you can only distinguish the sexes once the stripe starts to change. I have four juveniles - out of two very similar looking newts, one turned out to be a male and one a female. The colouration is almost identical.

Eva is correct, I did some research and asked many questions here and there and it appears that as juveniles, they are nearly impossible to sex. But, if Michael's marms morphed this spring 2011, by the end of the year they will be sexable. Males will develop a very slightly raised stripe.

 

[eljorgo]

Its impossible as for any other Triturus. Accurate sexing only after reaching adulthood.

 

[Jennewt]

What I've heard is that one of the sexes (I think it's the females, but not sure) has a brighter green color as juveniles. Whatever you do, don't select or segregate the brightly-colored ones, or you could end up skewing the sex ratio.

 

[michael]

I've heard the anecdotal juvenile sexing stories. When I tried it in the past it never worked. I was curious if anybody on here knew something I didn't. I have seen sexed juveniles for sale but think it is just wishful thinking.

 

[caleb]

Males will develop a very slightly raised stripe.

Females can also have a tiny 'crest' on occasion... but they never have the dark dots on the stripe that males do.

 

[Mark]

I've raised a few T.marmoratus over the years and I can't say I've noticed a difference in colour between sexes in juveniles. Mine tend to all be roughly the same colour. I would also be wary of the dorsolateral stripe markings. I'm sure I have adult females with some dotting along the stripe. I'll take a look next time and try to get a photo.