"Starry-eyed" again...

[Redfoot NERD]

Tomorrow I will acquire three 3 year-old star tortoises. Two of them have been "scoped" to determine their sexes. I'll explain "scoping" and post pics when I get them back here tomorrow evening. These are captive hatched from the 5.5 group used as examples in the "sexing and growth" Topic.

NERD

 

[jackrat]

Congrats o nerdy one! I know you're excited and,I must admit,I'm a little bit envious.Enjoy them,I know you will.

 

[TortieLuver]

I look forward to hearing more about the topic and seeing pics!

 

[elegans]

Funny that they would scope a 3 year old as they are 90% obvious at that age as far as secondary sex traits go. But for the sake of the study it makes sense. Congrats on your new critters. I'll try to call you next week things have been super crazy down here. Douglas

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Funny that they would scope a 3 year old as they are 90% obvious at that age as far as secondary sex traits go. But for the sake of the study it makes sense. Congrats on your new critters. I'll try to call you next week things have been super crazy down here. Douglas

That's "them" for ya Douglas!

Yeah I've been seeking 'females' for over 5 years now.. looking forward to seeing them. Yakattcha later.

Terry K

 

[samstar]

Congrats! Loiking forward the pics.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Just took these guys out of the box.. been a long day driving in the rain.. more later -

NERD

 

[Neal]

The look to be a pretty good size, can you take a picture next to a tape measure or something for reference?

Stars are the best baby!!!

 

[Redfoot NERD]

Will get all that later. They are actually smaller than I thought - 2 '08 hatched and an '07 hatched 3 1/4" - 3 1/2" SCL or so.

They munched mushrooms 5 minutes after offering!

Gotta take "the girls" out for Pizza.. it's for my M-I-L's 83rd birthday!

More later...

NERD

 

[jackrat]

Very nice.

 

[samstar]

They look lovely and need your TLC.

 

[Redfoot NERD]

I'll "wet" these guys and get a few glamour-shots soon! They're still a little shy. They've been handled more in the past 24 hours than they are used to I'm sure.

The smallest @ 3 1/2" SCL -

Maybe a hair over 4" SCL -

Right @ 4 1/2" SCL -

The above SCL readings are with them directly on the tape looking straight down on them.

"Scoping" is exactly how you think it may be:

The left rear leg is pulled away from the plastron and a small incision is made just above and to the right of the 'hip'. A small 'straw-sized' tube is then inserted followed by the tiny scope that looks for ovaries or testicles located toward the upper rear of the tortoise. This process is displayed on a monitor. It takes just a couple minutes and the tortoise is back to 'normal' in 10 minutes.

Two of these were 'scoped' as 1.1. The 3rd one was not scoped but is thought to be a female because it was incubated at 32C ( about 90F ).

There you have it...

NERD

 

[elegans]

Congrats on the new group! I am sure that they will do great for you. Our Spring lasted all of 5 days down here. We are straight into summer now. It was 91 F here today and yesterday. It does not bode well for the summer in general. Yikes it is going to be hot! Douglas

 

[egyptiandan]

They look great Terry

Are you going to post plastron pictures, so we can have fun figuring out who's who before you tell us?

Danny