Male or female

Boo628

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Hello everyone, so this is Stitch. I just got him from a rescue on July 3 of this year. Anyways the lady at the rescue wouldn't say if he's male or female. She claims all the tortoises there are male due to the fact that alot of people go for the females for breeding purposes. Here are some pictures. And also if anybody can guess about how old he is that would be great. Thx20180820_161949.jpeg20180820_161953.jpeg20180820_161959.jpeg
 

EllieMay

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Congratulations!! I think the lady was right about him being a male but i couldn’t even begin to guess on the age.. how much does he weigh? How big is he?
 

Boo628

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Congratulations!! I think the lady was right about him being a male but i couldn’t even begin to guess on the age.. how much does he weigh? How big is he?
Hi idk how much he weigh. I haven't weigh him yet. No scale but i will weigh him soon. He's over 12 inches n he's pretty heavy. I'll try to weigh him tmr. But the reason I'm asking if he's male or female is because Bigfoot my other sulcata always mount him when he sees him. No head bobbing or anything. I would of thought 2 males would fight or something. Is there a reason why stitch doesn't defend himself? And also his plastron is completely flat.
 

Maro2Bear

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It could be a clear case of Bullying. Your original Sully Bigfoot is very aggressively telling Stitch the new kid on the block that this is his territory! And to get out!

Sounds like you are keeping them together?
 

Boo628

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I agree. It looks like a male.
It could be a clear case of Bullying. Your original Sully Bigfoot is very aggressively telling Stitch the new kid on the block that this is his territory! And to get out!

Sounds like you are keeping them together?
No they are not together that's why i said when he sees him. They're blocked off but sometimes i unblock them n just sit n wait till they run into each other to see what they'll do. Everytime its the same thing but stitch doesn't seem scared. I move stitch and he come running back.
 

JoesMum

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No they are not together that's why i said when he sees him. They're blocked off but sometimes i unblock them n just sit n wait till they run into each other to see what they'll do. Everytime its the same thing but stitch doesn't seem scared. I move stitch and he come running back.
By doing this you are subjecting both torts to extreme stress. They cannot be certain they're safe because you randomly decide that they can be introduced to each other. Keep them apart and leave them apart. Let them relax safe in the knowledge that no other tort is going to be a threat to them physically or to their territory or food.
 

SulcatAZer

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Here it goes again with the extreme stress comment?... sheesh. That is a female IMO. Trust your observations, and congrats. Casual encounters are fine, but she is too young to breed, and the male will pester her too much.
 
Last edited:

SulcatAZer

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.. or maybe a male?.... I neglected to note the size your post.. only 12 inches or so, and noticed those gulars are quite stunted per a typical and larger female. But this site is full of so many edicts and mandates... Never keep more than a "pair" together. Never give them any fruit. Always keep them in solitary confinement. Never trust your own observations... That animal is not stressed, and every situation can be different.... let's be reasonable people, check on your animals at least twice daily, and react to the circumstances as they ARE in your setup, with your animals. Lots of great info on here
 

Yvonne G

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The gular is very small (female) but the anal scutes sre in the male configuration.
These facts lead me to believe the tortoise is still too small to successfully tell which gender.
 

Boo628

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Ok so i weigh Stitch today n he's 18 lbs
.. or maybe a male?.... I neglected to note the size your post.. only 12 inches or so, and noticed those gulars are quite stunted per a typical and larger female. But this site is full of so many edicts and mandates... Never keep more than a "pair" together. Never give them any fruit. Always keep them in solitary confinement. Never trust your own observations... That animal is not stressed, and every situation can be different.... let's be reasonable people, check on your animals at least twice daily, and react to the circumstances as they ARE in your setup, with your animals. Lots of great info on here
Hi i don't really get what you were saying about the gulars are stunted per a typical and larger female. Are you saying 12 in is big or small. Sorry i read it over so many times n now I'm confused
 

Boo628

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The gular is very small (female) but the anal scutes sre in the male configuration.
These facts lead me to believe the tortoise is still too small to successfully tell which gender.
Hi the gular by small you mean its short? It is thick though but short lol. And the plastron is flat. Like u can put your hand flat on it flat but the tail look big.
 

Boo628

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