Help with sexing my 11 year Hermanns Tortoise

Per Ehn

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Joined
May 27, 2015
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13
Hello fellow tortoise lovers!

I've had my dear Idamia for more than a decade now and I've grown more and more keen to eventually getting a friend for her. However, when it comes to tortoises, I've heard that sexes can have a huge inpact on how well they get along.

The pet store where I got her as a baby told me that all their hatchlings are probably female, but vets have told me throughout the years that she's probably a male. She have a really small tail though which she had when I got her too, so I'm not really sure.

Could you guys help me out? Thanks! :)
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Per Ehn

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2015
Messages
13
Hello fellow tortoise lovers!

I've had my dear Idamia for more than a decade now and I've grown more and more keen to eventually getting a friend for her. However, when it comes to tortoises, I've heard that sexes can have a huge inpact on how well they get along.

The pet store where I got her as a baby told me that all their hatchlings are probably female, but vets have told me throughout the years that she's probably a male. She have a really small tail though which she had when I got her too, so I'm not really sure.

Could you guys help me out? Thanks! :)

12171983_10207915514955665_831784853_o.jpg 12186122_10207915514475653_521246857_o.jpg 12181028_10207915514235647_276608718_o.jpg
 

Lyn W

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Hi there,
You have a lovely tort, but unfortunately while torts are ok in groups if the gender mix is carefully planned and you have loads of room, pairs of torts don't get on. If you do a search on the forum you will find several posts about the possibility of bullying, infection etc
They are solitary creatures and don't like or need friends so introducing another would probably be very stressful for both. One would become dominant and very subtly bully the other. It may not be particularly aggressive behaviour and it may look like they are cuddling but they don't do that, and things like following, pushing or even just stares can stress the other tort and make it sick. Some bullies nibble the other's feet or bash shells and can cause injury. So check out the posts about it so you know all the risks and decide then if you really want to put your lovely Idamia through that.
 

THBfriend

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Aug 22, 2013
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Definitely a male, but the tail is odd.
 

Per Ehn

New Member
Joined
May 27, 2015
Messages
13
Thanks for the replies guys!
Okay, I'll definately have to think harder about getting more tortoises. Maybe one day when I have more living space I'll build another tortoise table for another species.

Now I know then, thanks! Her/his tail has been that way since hatchlinghood, either they were born like that or something happened to them :(

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Definitely a male, but the tail is odd.
 

Yvonne G

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Looks like a male whose tail was bitten off as a baby.

I'd like to put a little idea out there for you to think about. Tortoises are solitary creatures. They neither need nor want other tortoises in their lives. If you put another tortoise in with this tortoise there will be fighting. Your tortoise will want to chase the new tortoise out of its territory. Pairs seldom work out well. For eleven years your tortoise has been king of his castle. Let him stay 'king.'
 

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