Flash the RF (pics!)

[Fyreflye]

I took Flash out today to get some sun- this year we seem to have skipped right through fall, and there haven't been many decent sunny days lately. So out we went, to take advantage of the weather. I used the opportunity to get a couple of pictures. I added the last one to see if Flash is old enough to be sexed yet- he's just over a year now.

 

[egyptiandan]

Flash looks like a young male to me.

Danny

 

[Stephanie Logan]

What a cute little palm-size pet!

 

[Weloveourtortoise]

Flash looks great! I love the first pic going after the flower!

 

[Kymiie]

Looks male to me, you see above his tail he has like a v shape well females have a u shape not always the case though, but looks a healthy baby male to me x

 

[Yvonne G]

I know that we've had an expert opinion posted about the sex of your tortoise, and he's usually 99.9% right, however, I'm going to go on record in saying that your tortoise is too young to tell yet.

Yvonne

 

[Madkins007]

Flash looks like a young male to me.

Danny

What characteristics are you looking at Danny? You have more experience than I do so I am not doubting you, but I don't see many male characteristics.

To my inexpert eye, it looks female- but is probably too young to tell yet. The things I look for are:
- Tail length- males are very long
- Tail position- males wrap them around, females often poke them out
- Angle of anal scutes- the last two scutes by the tail form an angle. A V-angle, or about a 90 degree angle is female. A more open angle, a -- angle or about a 180 degree angle is a male
- Anal opening- the gap between the points of the anal scutes and the rear marginals. Male is wide open and allows tail movement. Female is more restricted.
- Plastron shape- like the other points, this is more obvious as it gets older, but male Red-foots have a deeply indented plastron
- Thin waist- Northern, or light-plastroned Red-foots show some constriction at the waist as they get big. Southern Red-foots may be more of a 'loaf-shape' compared to the female's wider 'bowl shape', but not the constriction apparently.

 

[Stazz]

WOW Flash really is a cutie !!! He is so good looking. The first pic is just stunning, love it.