Sex of my RT

[dedjer]

Can someone please sex my tortoise? I have 2 and I know for sure that one is male because the tail is quite long and tucked to the side all the time. However, my other tortoise is throwing me off. The tail isn't very long and isn't usually tucked off to the side.

Thoughts based on this picture?




Thanks.
DJ

 

[tiffanyluvstorts]

Looks female to me. But wait on the experts. Lol


My babies 4 humans, 4 doggies, 2 Russians, 1 leopard gecko, 1 tarantula and a hermit crab. [SMILING FACE WITH HEART-SHAPED EYES]

 

[dedjer]

Another pic. Female?

 

[lindsey]

Female

 

[Irish]

I concur, female.

 

[Carol S]

Female

 

[Alan RF]

Female

 

[guille24]

Female!!

 

[mr. Binks]

Female because of the small tail

 

[biochemnerd808]

Ok, I'm going to be the contrarian and say that it might be a young male. How large is the tortoise? (flat shell length, not curved over the top). I would expect a female to a have a fatter, stubbier tail. The tip looks slender, and the vent is very slit-shaped. The first picture you posted I right away thought, 'that's a young male'. The second pic in your post a little later looks a little more female-ish... but it still doesn't look like a classic female tail. The female's vent looks more like an asterisk (*) and less like a slit.

My male didn't start looking very male until he hit 5" long. He still isn't as *cough* endowed as some of the very long-tailed males I've rehabilitated.

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On a side note, whether these are both males, or a female and a male, once they reach maturity (which they might have already done) you will probably find that you'll need to separate them... RTs are very territorial and usually pretty aggressive.

 

[dedjer]

I'm with you on this which is why I asked.

4 3/8" Underneath Shell Length
Measured using garment measuring
tape
Weight .75 lb.

 

[dedjer]

I'm guessing I have a male now that he's settled into his new home. He's starting to do the head bob and is trying to bite my other tortoise. Do females exhibit these aggressive actions?

 

[biochemnerd808]

Males and females can bob their head like that... but males especially do it. Females might do it at other females... but rarely will at other males. It may be necessary to separate them permanently. They can do some pretty harsh damage to each other if they get into a 'real' fight.

I'm guessing I have a male now that he's settled into his new home. He's starting to do the head bob and is trying to bite my other tortoise. Do females exhibit these aggressive actions?