Here's me new female russian. My 11 year old sister in law named her "Kiwi"! She has eaten, pooped, soaked (and drank SO MUCH water during and after her soak) and passed urates already. She's about 6 inches. Haven't got a weigh in yet!
New addition!
- Thread starter Tyanna
- Start date
Congrats!
For some reason, it looks like an immature male to me. Maybe it's the photo? The angle? Or just me
But I'm curious if any others notice that/think that too.. ?
For some reason, it looks like an immature male to me. Maybe it's the photo? The angle? Or just me
But I'm curious if any others notice that/think that too.. ?
I'm hoping it's a girl for ya! And I've only had real hands on experience with a dozen or so Russians...so I'm not the best judge...
But I still lean toward immature male.
@biochemnerd808 on the other hand would be a great judge of the private parts!
What do you think Katie?
But I still lean toward immature male.
@biochemnerd808 on the other hand would be a great judge of the private parts!
What do you think Katie?
It could be female, if it is 6 inches long. A lot of mail Russians I think only get to about 6 inches. But it really is hard to tell. have you checked out the really cool thread in the Russian section about how to sex the tortoise? Complete with pictures and drawings I think it is very near the top of the Russian tortoise section.
I think it is very near the top of the Russian tortoise section.
You got Katie's opinion already, That's great!
It's probably just me then. cuz it really does look like an immature male I've dealt with. Thought it was a female for a while, too.
It's probably just me then.
cuz it really does look like an immature male I've dealt with. Thought it was a female for a while, too.You got Katie's opinion already, That's great!
It's just me then.
Katie is my go-to, she's probably sick of me
LOLThe link I'm talking about is located just above @Tom Russian tortoise care sheet thread.
If it's the one I'm thinking of...Katie made that
Yes she did. And I think I trust her on sexing my tortoise, but I guess we'll find out once I have her longer!
I think that since this tortoise has an SCL of 6", it can reliably be sexed as a female. The tail does look a little on the pointy side, but the slit is a very puckery slit... and at this size, a male would have a tail the size of my pinkie finger. Immature females often don't have much fat deposits on their tails yet, which makes them look much skinnier. Some have a bit of a point, too. As they mature, they build up more fat deposits on their tails. I'll post a few pics of my immature females (2 of which are now proven, and 1 of which hasn't laid yet, but now has a fatty fat tail).
I know @Tyanna already got her answer on FB, but in case others are looking on here, I'll post here as well.
This one is Mila 3 years ago. She has now laid 1 egg this Fall, which hatched a beautiful baby. Her tail is fatter now. But the vent does look a little bit slit-y in this pic. It looks more pucker-ish now that she's built up more fat.
Below is Jill. Her tail is also very small and skinny still. It still looks a bit pointy because she, too, hasn't built up much fat.
Below is a close-up of VIvian's tiny tail. Hers is more classic, as the pucker is clearly a pucker, and she doesn't have much of a point. She is almost 8" SCL, but is so good at knocking away the male that she has not been successfully covered.
And finally, below is a close-up pic of Lady's fatty fat tail. I chose this one, because it has a lot of fat deposits on it, but it also has a point. Lady has produced 4 eggs, 2 of which hatched babies.
I know @Tyanna already got her answer on FB, but in case others are looking on here, I'll post here as well.
This one is Mila 3 years ago. She has now laid 1 egg this Fall, which hatched a beautiful baby. Her tail is fatter now. But the vent does look a little bit slit-y in this pic. It looks more pucker-ish now that she's built up more fat.
Below is Jill. Her tail is also very small and skinny still. It still looks a bit pointy because she, too, hasn't built up much fat.
Below is a close-up of VIvian's tiny tail. Hers is more classic, as the pucker is clearly a pucker, and she doesn't have much of a point. She is almost 8" SCL, but is so good at knocking away the male that she has not been successfully covered.
And finally, below is a close-up pic of Lady's fatty fat tail. I chose this one, because it has a lot of fat deposits on it, but it also has a point. Lady has produced 4 eggs, 2 of which hatched babies.
Thanks Katie for elaborating on the identification details!
I'm sure that if I questioned the gender, others did too and although sexing Russians is irrelevant to me, there could be an anonymous reader that this dialogue helps
I'm sure that if I questioned the gender, others did too and although sexing Russians is irrelevant to me, there could be an anonymous reader that this dialogue helps
Thanks Katie for elaborating on the identification details!
I'm sure that if I questioned the gender, others did too and although sexing Russians is irrelevant to me, there could be an anonymous reader that this dialogue helps
I questioned it too, so you're not the only one! I love the answer she gave, very helpful.
