Redfoots: Yet another request to help determine sexes...

Evereigh Mann

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Hello--

We have four Redfoots (one is a particularly stunning black Cherryhead) that are 3-4 years old, and they measure between 6 and 8 inches. I am curious to know what the sexes are, and while I try to glean info from the internet, I really cannot tell for sure...

1,000 thank-yous in advance!

1:
IMG_6820.jpeg

2:
IMG_6821.jpeg

3:
IMG_6822.jpeg

4 (black Cherrydude/dudette):
IMG_6823.jpeg
 

ZEROPILOT

REDFOOT WRANGLER
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My guess?
Male
Female
Male
Female
But I have been notoriously wrong in the past.
The truth is that they are still on the young side to really be able to tell...(.Even if I didn't suck at it.)
They all look female until the DAY that they dont.
 

Evereigh Mann

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Thank you, 0-Pi:

According to the parameters I'm seeing online, #1 certainly appears to be male. That one is also the biggest at 8 1/2 inches, for whatever reason, as it is within a few weeks age-wise as two of the others. The other 3 are inconclusive to my novice eyes.

If anyone else cares to chime in, please do feel free to!
 

Toddrickfl1

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They all look female imo. Here's a picture of my male that's about the same size for comparisonIMG_20190804_104433751.jpg
 

Evereigh Mann

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I can definitely see the pronounced "v" on yours. Uh oh...I'm hoping at least one of mine is a male.

At what age do the males begin to display the "hourglass" shape? Should mine at 3+ years old be showing the hourglass and the concave plastron if one were in fact a male?
 

Toddrickfl1

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I can definitely see the pronounced "v" on yours. Uh oh...I'm hoping at least one of mine is a male.

At what age do the males begin to display the "hourglass" shape? Should mine at 3+ years old be showing the hourglass and the concave plastron if one were in fact a male?
Mine started showing both at about 3 years.
 

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Females are much more sought after.
So, in the future you can always swap or sell one or more to other members.
I've done this in the past myself.
 

Evereigh Mann

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I didn't realize females are more sought after. From what I've read, most suggest it's best to have a group of females with just one male for breeding purposes, and it appears most breeders keep their incubators set at a higher temp to assure female hatchlings. I assumed the males were harder to come across.
 

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I didn't realize females are more sought after. From what I've read, most suggest it's best to have a group of females with just one male for breeding purposes, and it appears most breeders keep their incubators set at a higher temp to assure female hatchlings. I assumed the males were harder to come across.
Males are MUCH HARDER to keep together without at least 3 females per male.
That ends up being a lot of tortoises needing a lot of outdoor space.
 

Evereigh Mann

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With these juveniles, is the best way to determine sex by the size/shape of the tail, or by the shape of the plastron notch?
 

Evereigh Mann

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Hello, and thank you, mchong9606.

Apart from the responses on this thread, I have contacted various breeders--many of whom are recommended by this site--asking if they would take a moment to consider my situation. First and foremost, I am impressed with how cordial the responses have been. I suppose friendly people are attracted to tortoises in general.

On the basis of these photos, responses have run the gamut: From "all female" to "the first one female and the next 3 likely male" and everything in between. Again...these opinions have come from experienced breeders with the one constant being...well, inconsistency. I have been advised by two that the shape of the notch by the tail is not a reliable indicator at the 3- or 4-year-old stage.

I would like to know for certain, but it would seem to be a waiting game at this point.
 

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Hello, and thank you, mchong9606.

Apart from the responses on this thread, I have contacted various breeders--many of whom are recommended by this site--asking if they would take a moment to consider my situation. First and foremost, I am impressed with how cordial the responses have been. I suppose friendly people are attracted to tortoises in general.

On the basis of these photos, responses have run the gamut: From "all female" to "the first one female and the next 3 likely male" and everything in between. Again...these opinions have come from experienced breeders with the one constant being...well, inconsistency. I have been advised by two that the shape of the notch by the tail is not a reliable indicator at the 3- or 4-year-old stage.

I would like to know for certain, but it would seem to be a waiting game at this point.
The truth is that they are still sexually immature.
It's still too soon to say for 100%.
And yes.
This forum is full of great people.
 

allegraf

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They all look like girls, so early in the game. They will all be girls until the tail grows almost overnight or you get a peen flash during a bath. They are still too small for an accurate sexing.
 

Evereigh Mann

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Hi Stacie--

It has been raining down here in the Sarasota/Bradenton area all weekend, and he/she is sandier than usual...

IMG_6880.jpeg IMG_6881.jpeg
 

Evereigh Mann

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They all look like girls, so early in the game. They will all be girls until the tail grows almost overnight or you get a peen flash during a bath. They are still too small for an accurate sexing.

Thanks Allegra--

No flash so far, but it does occur to me that a month or so back, I checked in with them in the morning to note the largest of the four (picture #1) furiously digging a fairly wide hole that was completely filled in when I returned from work that evening. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but will they dig holes and then simply fill them in for no reason...? There is no chance that a 3 1/2-yr-old Redfoot is with child(ren), is there?
 

Redstrike

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At this stage, it looks like they are all girls to me but I agree with the others, it's still too soon to confidently say.
 

treefrog010

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I only have 45 years into the torts but I am seeing all females. # 3 has best chance of being a male later. My question is; have any of them started to show a concave plastron??
Frank
 

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