Paint and Other Ways NOT to Use to Mark Turtles
===============================================


Copyright by Valerie Haecky. This document may be freely 
distributed for non-profit use, provided this notice is
included.

I sometimes get asked, how to mark turtles by people who have
many and would like to be able to tell them apart.

It is generally not recommended to use ANY paint on smaller
turtles. Many paints have some toxins in them, and all paints
will cover the shell in such a way that no air can pass through.
I have seen larger tortoises marked with small dots of paint 
by people who know what they are doing. 

Here are some ideas on what to do:

* All turtles' shells and markings are unique for indivuduals.
  For sliders and many other turtles and tortoises, you can
  memorize (or make labeled drawings or photographs), especially
  of the plastron (bottom shell). 
  Many turtles/tortoises have nicks, malformed scutes, color splotches,
  scars, or other natural markings that distinguish them from the
  rest.

* Use duct tape marked with paint or a marker pen.

* Use a permanent marker and mark the turtle with a very small mark.

* If you are going to use paint, make sure it is non-toxic, and use
  as little as possible.

* I wonder how well nail-polish would work. It's non-toxic (since it's
  OK to put it in little baby's nails), but it might chip off after a
  while. However, any paint will chip, scrape, or grow off after a while.

* Never cut, notch, or drill the shell, since it is living bone.

* Or, best, but hardest: spend a lot of time staring at your turtles, 
  until you can tell them apart. They ARE all different. (I know, this
  is not easy, especially if the turtles are of similar size and live
  in a pond where you don't see them a lot. Just thought I had to 
  mention this...)

This is not much, but maybe it gives you some ideas...