Help with the male or female debate!
- Thread starter Ms.Bella
- Start date
And there was I ready to start with... "your tort is far too small to sex accurately"! 
I'd say you have Max there due to those wide anal scutes (the plastron either side of the tail)
Love the pair of feet apparently growing out of his head Can we see him the right way up please... just to admire you understand
Hello and welcome by the way
I'd say you have Max there due to those wide anal scutes (the plastron either side of the tail)
Love the pair of feet apparently growing out of his head
Can we see him the right way up please... just to admire you understand Hello and welcome by the way
Ms.Bella
New Member
That's what I thought too...
A bit of back story, I have two other smaller sulcata, females. I adopted this one in January. His/her name is Iggy. I got this one bc I specifically wanted a female to prevent breeding. This weekend I was working in the garden and I looked at "her", she was standing in her tiptoes and, to make a long story short, I think I saw her flashing. I contacted the rescuer and they still insist Iggy is female.
I really hope Iggy is a female bc she's a great tort, but I'm starting to have doubts.
A bit of back story, I have two other smaller sulcata, females. I adopted this one in January. His/her name is Iggy. I got this one bc I specifically wanted a female to prevent breeding. This weekend I was working in the garden and I looked at "her", she was standing in her tiptoes and, to make a long story short, I think I saw her flashing. I contacted the rescuer and they still insist Iggy is female.
I really hope Iggy is a female bc she's a great tort, but I'm starting to have doubts.
I'm pretty sure that's a male tortoise. (...and welcome to the Forum!)
Females can flash too, but it does look much smaller than a male flash. There is no mistaking a male flash, particularly in a tortoise this size!
This one is not so easy. The anal scutes are still right in between. That would be a very small tail for a male, but its also a little on the big side for a female.
Interesting case. Was this tortoise living with other tortoises before you got it? Specifically other males? I've seen a few cases of subordinate males repressing their secondary sexual characteristics for a long time when they live with a more dominant male. I had one like this. I didn't know it was a male until it was almost 9 years old and 45 pounds. How old is this tortoise?
Interesting case. Was this tortoise living with other tortoises before you got it? Specifically other males? I've seen a few cases of subordinate males repressing their secondary sexual characteristics for a long time when they live with a more dominant male. I had one like this. I didn't know it was a male until it was almost 9 years old and 45 pounds. How old is this tortoise?
Ms.Bella
New Member
Really?!
Maybe that's what this was. It was real quick. She stood up on her tiptoes, I asked my son who was working w me "what's she doing?" Then we heard a farting sound "oh great, she's pooping " (he just got done taking up all the poop lol) I saw a shadow under her and went over there to move her so she wasn't sitting in poop. As I picked her up from the back I saw this two dark purple things go back onside
Maybe that's what this was. It was real quick. She stood up on her tiptoes, I asked my son who was working w me "what's she doing?" Then we heard a farting sound "oh great, she's pooping " (he just got done taking up all the poop lol) I saw a shadow under her and went over there to move her so she wasn't sitting in poop. As I picked her up from the back I saw this two dark purple things go back onside
I still think this one is male by the way... particularly after what you describe. That sounds boy to me!
Ms.Bella
New Member
Not 100% sure on age as it's a rescue
Thinking around 7-8
Weighs around 35lbs
My two other females look different in their tail and scutes. Iggy has a fairly flat plaston but not as flat as my other two
It's a mystery
Thinking around 7-8
Weighs around 35lbs
My two other females look different in their tail and scutes. Iggy has a fairly flat plaston but not as flat as my other two
It's a mystery
Ms.Bella
New Member
From what I know, since the rescuer got "her" she's been housed w females. Not too sure how long they had the tort
The male I spoke of earlier had a flat plastron until age nine.
The behavior you describe sounds like a male flashing, but it could also be a female prolapsing.
What do you feed this tortoise and how often do you soak it? Sometimes they will strain themselves trying to poop when they are dehydrated. Where in the country are you? Climate?
The behavior you describe sounds like a male flashing, but it could also be a female prolapsing.
What do you feed this tortoise and how often do you soak it? Sometimes they will strain themselves trying to poop when they are dehydrated. Where in the country are you? Climate?
Ms.Bella
New Member
It didn't look like a prolapse. I'm in the medical field and used to be the vet assistant at Santa Anita race track. Intestines look different, but it didn't look round like the pics I've seen of flashing. It was more two 2" or so parts out of the sides
After that happened I contacted the rescuer and she told me to make sure she is soaked and not constipated. So I put Iggy in the tub and pooped right away w no issues and peed w some soft urates. My torts eat grasses, weeds and occasionally pumpkin, cactus, mulberry leaves...
Soaked every few days, water always available
I live in SoCal
After that happened I contacted the rescuer and she told me to make sure she is soaked and not constipated. So I put Iggy in the tub and pooped right away w no issues and peed w some soft urates. My torts eat grasses, weeds and occasionally pumpkin, cactus, mulberry leaves...
Soaked every few days, water always available
I live in SoCal
I think you might have a male. A stealth male...
Over the next few years I would expect that tail to grow and that plastron to get some concavity.
Over the next few years I would expect that tail to grow and that plastron to get some concavity.
Ms.Bella
New Member
Dang it
Now not sure what to do. I don't want to breed and my other breed and my other two are female
Thanks everyone
When I get home tonight I'll post a proper into and pics of all my "girls" lol
Now not sure what to do. I don't want to breed and my other breed and my other two are female
Thanks everyone
When I get home tonight I'll post a proper into and pics of all my "girls" lol
Sorry.
See if you can get a better shot of the underside of the tail. Sometimes after a soak, they will stick their tail out. If we see the tail fully extended and the cloacal opening, it might give us more to go on.
See if you can get a better shot of the underside of the tail. Sometimes after a soak, they will stick their tail out. If we see the tail fully extended and the cloacal opening, it might give us more to go on.
Ms.Bella
New Member
Ok
Ill do that tonight. I'll see if I can get some better pics of the tail to post here and to send to the rescue
Thanks all
Ill do that tonight. I'll see if I can get some better pics of the tail to post here and to send to the rescue
Thanks all
Ms.Bella
New Member
Since it was requested here's some shots of my gender changing tort
One shot from the back, a few from the side and front and one of "him" bellying up to the bar like his name sake, Iggy pop
You have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of a moving , eating tort?!
One shot from the back, a few from the side and front and one of "him" bellying up to the bar like his name sake, Iggy pop
You have any idea how hard it is to take a picture of a moving , eating tort?!
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He is a fine animal. Lovely
I just wanted to comment on the first photo which made me smile...
A shell.... With some human feet sticking out from under....
Look at it very funny ))
Sorry I can't help you with your question but beautiful tort!
Joey
A shell.... With some human feet sticking out from under....
Look at it
very funny ))Sorry I can't help you with your question but beautiful tort!
Joey
