Gender help!

Willow.1

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2022
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
CT
Good morning!
I have had my tortoise for a year and a half now. I thought after doing some research, that my tortoise was a female. My exotic vet had come to the same conclusion. However, I recently got another female tortoise and this one has decided to mount the other, making me question if this tortoise truly is a female. The tail seems longer than the other tortoises, but this tortoise is also older. I’m hoping that the photos I’ve attached will help! I’m looking for any input you can offer. Thank you.
 

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zovick

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Nov 17, 2013
Messages
3,388
Good morning!
I have had my tortoise for a year and a half now. I thought after doing some research, that my tortoise was a female. My exotic vet had come to the same conclusion. However, I recently got another female tortoise and this one has decided to mount the other, making me question if this tortoise truly is a female. The tail seems longer than the other tortoises, but this tortoise is also older. I’m hoping that the photos I’ve attached will help! I’m looking for any input you can offer. Thank you.
It looks like a male to me. The tail is long and thick plus has a spur at the end which females usually lack.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,269
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Good morning!
I have had my tortoise for a year and a half now. I thought after doing some research, that my tortoise was a female. My exotic vet had come to the same conclusion. However, I recently got another female tortoise and this one has decided to mount the other, making me question if this tortoise truly is a female. The tail seems longer than the other tortoises, but this tortoise is also older. I’m hoping that the photos I’ve attached will help! I’m looking for any input you can offer. Thank you.
Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Regardless of the sexes. They are territorial and even females will mount other females to dominate them and drive them out of their territory.

The tortoise in the picture is male. They all look female as juveniles until the adult hormones get going and then the secondary sexual characteristics begin to show more. Most vets know very little about tortoises, as your example clearly illustrates.
 
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