I did NOT see that coming!😵‍💫

[Moozillion]

Back in 2012 I bought my Hermann’s tortoise, Elsa, from a forum member. Elsa was 4 1/2 inches long and her tail was distinctly feminine.
I specifically WANTED a female tortoise, which is why I went ahead and got her. Her tail has remained distinctly feminine in the 11 years we’ve had her.
At a vet appointment yesterday, while they were examining her, she flashed her penis at them several times!!!!! The herpetology specialist (this was at the LSU Veterinary School in Baton Rouge) laughed and said, well, there’s no mistaking THAT!!! 😱🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I protested and pointed out her short tail, and he said sometimes it’s just like that!!!🤷🏼‍♀️

So the Tortoise-Formerly-Known-As-Elsa is now Guthrie. Preferred pronouns are He/him. 🙃

I’m so confused…🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[TammyJ]

Congratulations on the correct affirmation of your identity, Elsa. Please tell your owner that you do not appreciate her re-naming you. What about Georgie Girl and A Boy named Sue??? Elsa is your name and it's sexist to change it just on a human whim, right? Right.
Next time, try to flash it somewhere apart from at the vet's.

 

[wellington]

Wow, that's a long time to wait to find out she is a he.
But to make sure, females can flash too. Did you see it? Did it look like the males flashing you can find on the internet? A female flash will not be as obvious as a males.

 

[zolasmum]

What about a compromise name such as Nelson ?
Angie

 

[Moozillion]

Guthrie came from a list of gender-neutral names.🤪

 

[Moozillion]

Wow, that's a long time to wait to find out she is a he.
But to make sure, females can flash too. Did you see it? Did it look like the males flashing you can find on the internet? A female flash will not be as obvious as a males.

I did not see it, but I assume a veterinarian at the vet school who is a herpetology specialist would know. 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

[wellington]

I did not see it, but I assume a veterinarian at the vet school who is a herpetology specialist would know. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Not necessarily. They don't teach about tortoise/ chelonian. That's why we are always cautioning people about going to the vets. It's not as common in females and not as scary lol, but it can and does happen. I bet if you had known, and asked the vet if females can flash, he likely would say no.

 

[TammyJ]

Wouldn't the female flash be more like a prolapse?

 

[Moozillion]

I’ll ask when they call with the update later today.
😃👍

 

[EricW]

Not necessarily. They don't teach about tortoise/ chelonian. That's why we are always cautioning people about going to the vets. It's not as common in females and not as scary lol, but it can and does happen. I bet if you had known, and asked the vet if females can flash, he likely would say no.

Agree with Wellington in general, but if I recall correctly, LSU has a very good exotics practice with multiple veterinarians that specialize is various aspects of herpetology. Dr. Mark Mitchell is there and has quite the resume when it comes to reptiles.

So Moozillion may have been in good hands. However, there is a possibility that the tortoise was seen by any veterinarian on the rotation and may not necessarily mean the herpetology specialist or one versed in turtles. I had a reptile once that I took to Texas A&M Veterinarian hospital and I was first seen by the 4th year student and followed up by the veterinarian on rotation. If it was a regular visit, I would have been in and out and known none the better. However, my issue was an eye issue that they could not resolve and thus they called in the ophthalmologist who is a reptile enthusiast. I knew him through the reptile club and his hobby was reptiles, he had quite the collection.

 

[Moozillion]

Agree with Wellington in general, but if I recall correctly, LSU has a very good exotics practice with multiple veterinarians that specialize is various aspects of herpetology. Dr. Mark Mitchell is there and has quite the resume when it comes to reptiles.

So Moozillion may have been in good hands. However, there is a possibility that the tortoise was seen by any veterinarian on the rotation and may not necessarily mean the herpetology specialist or one versed in turtles. I had a reptile once that I took to Texas A&M Veterinarian hospital and I was first seen by the 4th year student and followed up by the veterinarian on rotation. If it was a regular visit, I would have been in and out and known none the better. However, my issue was an eye issue that they could not resolve and thus they called in the ophthalmologist who is a reptile enthusiast. I knew him through the reptile club and his hobby was reptiles, he had quite the collection.

Agree with Wellington in general, but if I recall correctly, LSU has a very good exotics practice with multiple veterinarians that specialize is various aspects of herpetology. Dr. Mark Mitchell is there and has quite the resume when it comes to reptiles.

So Moozillion may have been in good hands. However, there is a possibility that the tortoise was seen by any veterinarian on the rotation and may not necessarily mean the herpetology specialist or one versed in turtles. I had a reptile once that I took to Texas A&M Veterinarian hospital and I was first seen by the 4th year student and followed up by the veterinarian on rotation. If it was a regular visit, I would have been in and out and known none the better. However, my issue was an eye issue that they could not resolve and thus they called in the ophthalmologist who is a reptile enthusiast. I knew him through the reptile club and his hobby was reptiles, he had quite the collection.

Luckily, Guthrie was seen by a vet who is a herp enthusiast and will very soon start an advanced post-graduate herpetology fellowship, so I assume he knows more than general vets when it comes to tortoises. When I mentioned this forum to him, he nodded enthusiastically and said “they’re great” and that he knows the forum. Not sure if that means he’s a member but just not disclosing his professional status, or if he just enjoys cruising the forum.

 

[Cathie G]

Well since a Herman's is about the size of a Russian, I'm still trying to figure out how Elsa or Guthrie got that thing in and out so many times 😁in one vet visit. When I got flashed by Sapphire it took awhile to roll it back in because it was about as long as him. It scared me half to death. On the other hand I did have a female box turtle with red eyes so I guess all that's not too farfetched.🤗

 

[Moozillion]

I spoke with Guthrie’s vet about male vs female parts being exposed, and he laughed (kindly). He agreed emphatically that both males and females can flash their genitals, but says it’s not too hard to tell the difference. He says Guthrie absolutely showed him boy parts. 😂

 

[wellington]

I spoke with Guthrie’s vet about male vs female parts being exposed, and he laughed (kindly). He agreed emphatically that both males and females can flash their genitals, but says it’s not too hard to tell the difference. He says Guthrie absolutely showed him boy parts. 😂

Glad you confirmed it. There is no mistaking it that's for sure, as long as one knows that a female can flash too.

 

[Moozillion]

Glad you confirmed it. There is no mistaking it that's for sure, as long as one knows that a female can flash too.

He said it was a very fair question! 😂

 

[Moozillion]

Agree with Wellington in general, but if I recall correctly, LSU has a very good exotics practice with multiple veterinarians that specialize is various aspects of herpetology. Dr. Mark Mitchell is there and has quite the resume when it comes to reptiles.

So Moozillion may have been in good hands. However, there is a possibility that the tortoise was seen by any veterinarian on the rotation and may not necessarily mean the herpetology specialist or one versed in turtles. I had a reptile once that I took to Texas A&M Veterinarian hospital and I was first seen by the 4th year student and followed up by the veterinarian on rotation. If it was a regular visit, I would have been in and out and known none the better. However, my issue was an eye issue that they could not resolve and thus they called in the ophthalmologist who is a reptile enthusiast. I knew him through the reptile club and his hobby was reptiles, he had quite the collection.

Eric- how did you know that LSU has a good exotics department? I ASSUMED they did, being a vet school, but had no other concrete info to go on.

 

[EricW]

Eric- how did you know that LSU has a good exotics department? I ASSUMED they did, being a vet school, but had no other concrete info to go on.

Just through random conversations, readings, etc. However, most of my stuff is fairly old and could have changed, but usually once a program makes a name for itself, it kinda has a long legacy. Look up LSU veterinarian faculty and you can see quite a bit.

However, I wouldn't assume that because it is a vet school that they are "good" at specifically what you need. Just like any other colleges. Some are better at some curriculum than others and what not. Also, exotics department can have a lot of talent in zoo animals like giraffes, elephants, and lions, but not so much in say birds. It all varies. However, I believe LSU has 6 or 8 veterinarian faculty and clinic faculty that specialize in reptiles. Dr. Mitchell I mentioned has published papers on Blandings and Loggerhead Sea turtles. And for what it is worth, Flucker Farms is proud to advertise they invest in his research.

 

[Moozillion]

Just through random conversations, readings, etc. However, most of my stuff is fairly old and could have changed, but usually once a program makes a name for itself, it kinda has a long legacy. Look up LSU veterinarian faculty and you can see quite a bit.

However, I wouldn't assume that because it is a vet school that they are "good" at specifically what you need. Just like any other colleges. Some are better at some curriculum than others and what not. Also, exotics department can have a lot of talent in zoo animals like giraffes, elephants, and lions, but not so much in say birds. It all varies. However, I believe LSU has 6 or 8 veterinarian faculty and clinic faculty that specialize in reptiles. Dr. Mitchell I mentioned has published papers on Blandings and Loggerhead Sea turtles. And for what it is worth, Flucker Farms is proud to advertise they invest in his research.

That’s very good to know!!!😃
Thanks!