Black Dots?
- Thread starter SrTort78
- Start date
Hi and welcome,
We have a lot of RF keepers here, but it could just the unique pattern of the shell.
I'll tag @ZEROPILOT who'll know for sure.
We have a lot of RF keepers here, but it could just the unique pattern of the shell.
I'll tag @ZEROPILOT who'll know for sure.
Likely just a shell pattern. Better pictures would help.
Also at 2 years, it's too young to positively sex. They all look female when too young to sex.
Also at 2 years, it's too young to positively sex. They all look female when too young to sex.
looks like "marbling" to me. very fancy
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- Jul 16, 2014
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- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
It appears that you have a CHERRYHEAD REDFOOT TORTOISE that is marbling.
It's common with CHERRYHEAD and will fade away eventually and all turn dark again.
And yes. At this size they all look female
It's common with CHERRYHEAD and will fade away eventually and all turn dark again.
And yes. At this size they all look female
No no i dont have a cherry head and i can tell that shes a female.
okay here Also that photo was from february im not sure what it really is.
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And how do you know it's a female?
Muy tortoise has a flat bottom shell and has dark eyes and at the pet store it said it was a female
Yep, that's a 2 year old too young to sex! The pet store will never know more then the people of this forum.
It could turn out female. But right now it's too young!
You choose who you want to believe and listen too!
Right
I have a leopard tortoise called Lola who was found and unclaimed and quite large. When I first adopted it I went to a vet who told me I had a 10 year old female (flat plastron etc). From seeing other leopards I realised she was probably only between 3-5 yrs, and then a few years later 'she' proudly showed me I actually had a male. Your tort could turn out to be female - but don't be surprised if in a couple of years he is proudly flashing his penis at you, it's difficult to tell when they are so young.
There is a lot of old and incorrect information about torts still being passed on by some breeders, non specialist vets, online, social media and especially pet stores who are happy to sell them, along with usually unsuitable and even unsafe equipment for profit. Whereas people here have been keeping torts of all species for decades and even been involved in research to improve care conditions for tortoises. They are happy to share their experiences and give their time freely to pass on their knowledge and make sure that the old mistakes are avoided - for no other reason than the love of torts and to make sure they can live happy, healthy lives for as long as possible and to save keepers a fortune in vet bills.
Most of us have been given wrong advice and information starting out but thanks to this forum have been able to learn more about our torts, make changes and keep them safe, so don't believe everything a pet store tells you - they rarely know, but you'll find a wealth of knowledge here in the form of caresheets or Q&A and discussion threads etc that will help your tort thrive.
There is a lot of old and incorrect information about torts still being passed on by some breeders, non specialist vets, online, social media and especially pet stores who are happy to sell them, along with usually unsuitable and even unsafe equipment for profit. Whereas people here have been keeping torts of all species for decades and even been involved in research to improve care conditions for tortoises. They are happy to share their experiences and give their time freely to pass on their knowledge and make sure that the old mistakes are avoided - for no other reason than the love of torts and to make sure they can live happy, healthy lives for as long as possible and to save keepers a fortune in vet bills.
Most of us have been given wrong advice and information starting out but thanks to this forum have been able to learn more about our torts, make changes and keep them safe, so don't believe everything a pet store tells you - they rarely know, but you'll find a wealth of knowledge here in the form of caresheets or Q&A and discussion threads etc that will help your tort thrive.
Last edited:
Maddoggy
Active Member
They all have flat plastrons and small tails when they are young. Eye color means nothing. Your tortoise is too young and too small to know the sex. It will be another year or two before you know.
Pet stores know nothing about tortoises and tortoise care and usually give terrible advice and sell you products that are dangerous and/or useless. Did they sell you a ramped water bowl? Cfl type UV bulb? Did they sell you an "intense spot bulb" for basking? We will help you, if you let us.
The spots you are seeing are called marbling. It is normal tortoise pigmentation. It is common to see it in growing RFs, especially cherry heads, as ZP suggested.
I'm not a pro, but I agree with what others have stated in previous posts that it's likely marbling, and also that it's too early to tell the gender of your tortoise.
I brought a hatchling a bit more than four years ago, and was certain that Darwin was a male... I'm still not sure (because Darwin is only 4), but I'm increasingly sure that Darwin is a female.
I wrote two children's books about my tortoises, and am working on a third....
Jamie
I brought a hatchling a bit more than four years ago, and was certain that Darwin was a male... I'm still not sure (because Darwin is only 4), but I'm increasingly sure that Darwin is a female.
I wrote two children's books about my tortoises, and am working on a third....
Jamie
Your tortoise is gorgeous.
