Female tortoises seem like they’re mating?

[Evalawrence]

We'll try. We need to see the tail and bottom shell.

Here are some pictures of them side by side, thanks for the help!

 

[Cathie G]

Waiting to see plastron pictures of them side by side. This will be instructive for some of us!

It will be for me also.

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

Here are some pictures of them side by side, thanks for the help!

Both of those are males.

 

[TammyJ]

They do both look kind of similar and have big thick tails, like they are males...?

 

[Yvonne G]

Yup. Both male.

 

[Yvonne G]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think those are Hermanns???

@HermanniChris

 

[TammyJ]

What are they?

 

[Evalawrence]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think those are Hermanns???

@HermanniChris

Hi thanks is for verifying they’re both males, what breed do you think they are?

 

[HermanniChris]

100% Hermann’s (eastern), 100% males BUT it should not go without saying that females can and do mount, ram, squeak and bite each other just like males do.

 

[Tom]

@Evalawrence
After looking at your pics I wanted to mention that tomatoes are not a good for for tortoises, and hermanni are not grass eaters. They eat primarily broadleaf weeds. Skip the text in this thread and scroll down to the food list for some ideas:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[C. Nelson]

Pairs bad! Could be bullying could be one has reached puberty. They really need seperate but equal.

I like that- separate but equal. : )

 

[DesertGirl]

That sometimes happens when a female is ready to breed or nest, but I agree with SweetGreek - that certainly looks like a male tail.

But the plastron looks so flat. I thought that was a better clue than tail length. More info please Yvonne.

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

But the plastron looks so flat. I thought that was a better clue than tail length. More info please Yvonne.

Some species of tortoise have males with flat plastrons, so the length of the tail is a more accurate indicator. The Russian Tortoise is a perfect example.

 

[DesertGirl]

Some species of tortoise have males with flat plastrons, so the length of the tail is a more accurate indicator. The Russian Tortoise is a perfect example.

Thank you very much for that info, SweetGreek! You’re making me wonder if my sweet little girl is a boy! Her tail is rather long for a DT.

 

[Ketta]

Wow i had no idea some males have flat plastron

 

[Yvonne G]

But the plastron looks so flat. I thought that was a better clue than tail length. More info please Yvonne.

The males of the testudo species don't develop a concave plastron.

 

[Ketta]

The males of the testudo species don't develop a concave plastron.

How they do to breed?

 

[SweetGreekTorts]

How they do to breed?

They can still mount and breed with no trouble.

If you look at box turtles, the males actually sit back and rest on their shells when mating.

 

[Yvonne G]

How they do to breed?

I s'pose that's why they have such freakishly long tails.

 

[DesertGirl]

The males of the testudo species don't develop a concave plastron.

Which ones DO have the concave plastrons? I’m learning so much!