Sex of young sulcata?

HawaiiHermann

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Hi, I'm asking for a friend -- what is the sex of his sulcata? I didn't break out the ruler, but it's about 10"-12" SCL.

20171211_092434.jpg 20171211_083227.jpg
 

Markw84

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Looking pretty male. The gulars are starting to extend and the anals are showing the flare outward. At 12" those characteristics start to become meaningful.
 

Tom

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I think its still too young to call it. I really can't see the tail in either pic, and that is usually a strong indicator.
 

HawaiiHermann

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I think its still too young to call it. I really can't see the tail in either pic, and that is usually a strong indicator.

What tail characteristics are more male or female? Just the length and opening shape? Compared to my definitely-male Hermanns, the tail is pretty short and no spike at the end, though the sulcata seems to carry the tail tightly tucked up to the side. Not like my Hermanns swinging the thing around all the time, haha. I can try to get more pics later.
 

Tom

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What tail characteristics are more male or female? Just the length and opening shape? Compared to my definitely-male Hermanns, the tail is pretty short and no spike at the end, though the sulcata seems to carry the tail tightly tucked up to the side. Not like my Hermanns swinging the thing around all the time, haha. I can try to get more pics later.
Adult male sulcatas have very long tails. Easily 3 inches. Adult females have tiny little nubs for a tail. Just a 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

When they are juveniles, they all look sort of female-ish, but as maturity gets closer and the hormones start flowing, the males tails get bigger. Anal scute shape is another strong indicator, but that takes more time in most cases.

Many people, myself included, have prematurely declared a sulcata to be female, only to learn we wrong wrong months or years later. If its got a big tail, its a male. The tail never shrinks. If its got a small tail, it could be either a female, or an immature male.
 

HawaiiHermann

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Adult male sulcatas have very long tails. Easily 3 inches. Adult females have tiny little nubs for a tail. Just a 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

When they are juveniles, they all look sort of female-ish, but as maturity gets closer and the hormones start flowing, the males tails get bigger. Anal scute shape is another strong indicator, but that takes more time in most cases.

Many people, myself included, have prematurely declared a sulcata to be female, only to learn we wrong wrong months or years later. If its got a big tail, its a male. The tail never shrinks. If its got a small tail, it could be either a female, or an immature male.

Thanks @Tom ! I'll have to take another peek at the tail next time I see the tortoise. I thought my tortoise was a female for the longest time, until I got flashed, so I know how that goes...
 

Tom

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Here is an adult female. You can clearly see the tiny tail nub and the "U" shaped anal scutes.
11uxedu.jpg




Here is an obvious male. Note the giant tail and the wide "V" shape of the anal scutes:
13395188_f520.jpg

Both of these pictures were taken by me of my own tortoises and posted on the tortoise forum years ago. I found them on an internet search looking for good examples to show you… Crazy huh?
 

HawaiiHermann

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Here's a pic of the tortoise's tail. It does seem a pinch long for a female, and the opening does resemble that of my male Hermann's... but this was also immediately before a poop. I suppose time will tell...
 

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Tom

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Here's a pic of the tortoise's tail. It does seem a pinch long for a female, and the opening does resemble that of my male Hermann's... but this was also immediately before a poop. I suppose time will tell...
I found a couple of pictures of my own tortoises on the internet that better illustrate the difference: Compare the tail in your pic to the tail to these two:
1z6rnt.jpg
14949lj.jpg


Here is a pic I found (on the internet…) of my Daisy when she was little, who did turn out to be female:
2dkz9xx.jpg
 

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