Is my tortoise a boy or a girl?

[CaggyQ]

Hi there, fellow tort lovers!

My little Yoshi is not so little anymore, and I’m just wondering if anyone could help me with figuring out if they are a boy or girl. I am curious because they are growing bigger and bigger. Yoshi got a lovely new enclosure but I suspect a bigger one will be needed in the future! It’s a 4ftx2ftx2ft. 😊

Anyway, here are some pics of Yoshi’s little tail. Any help on the big gender reveal would be greatly appreciated! 🐢

 

[fgcinhb1966]

Looks male to me

 

[wellington]

Looking female. But how old and big is he?
The enclosure needs to be bigger now. A 4x2x2 is hatchling size to maybe a year old depending on species.

 

[CaggyQ]

Looking female. But how old and big is he?
The enclosure needs to be bigger now. A 4x2x2 is hatchling size to maybe a year old depending on species.

Hi @wellington. Thank you so much for your help as always. Yoshi is two! Would that be too soon?

I may have gotten the measurement size wrong, because I took your advice previously and consulted reptile specialists and zoologists, who all helped source Yoshi’s new enclosure for me. It’s so large that pot Yoshi needs a compass and a lunchbox to help get around! 🙈

 

[zovick]

Hi there, fellow tort lovers!

My little Yoshi is not so little anymore, and I’m just wondering if anyone could help me with figuring out if they are a boy or girl. I am curious because they are growing bigger and bigger. Yoshi got a lovely new enclosure but I suspect a bigger one will be needed in the future! It’s a 4ftx2ftx2ft. 😊

Anyway, here are some pics of Yoshi’s little tail. Any help on the big gender reveal would be greatly appreciated! 🐢

Looks like a female.

 

[wellington]

Hi @wellington. Thank you so much for your help as always. Yoshi is two! Would that be too soon?

I may have gotten the measurement size wrong, because I took your advice previously and consulted reptile specialists and zoologists, who all helped source Yoshi’s new enclosure for me. It’s so large that pot Yoshi needs a compass and a lunchbox to help get around! 🙈

I hope the measurements are wrong and you didnt just get bad advice. Most places, zoo's, vets, even some reptile specialists still think a tortoise can start its life in a 10 gallon aquarium.
2 is a bit young but if s/he was going to change you should see some changes this next year or two. My male leopard flashed at 3 years.
But for now I think you are safer at assuming it's a she.

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks female to me too, however, because of the young age and the cloaca placement towards the tip of the tail I'm betting he's male.

 

[CaggyQ]

I hope the measurements are wrong and you didnt just get bad advice. Most places, zoo's, vets, even some reptile specialists still think a tortoise can start its life in a 10 gallon aquarium.
2 is a bit young but if s/he was going to change you should see some changes this next year or two. My male leopard flashed at 3 years.
But for now I think you are safer at assuming it's a she.

I’ll keep that in mind, thank you as always! 😊 I’ll take some pics of Yoshi’s new setup and send on. I have currently lost the little one in there though… so I am pretty sure I have got the measurements wrong 😂

And perfect! I am aware that female horsefields grow considerably bigger, so I’m already making plans for an extension 😜

 

[wellington]

4x8 is minimum recommended for your tort.