Sexing small Indian Star Tortoise

[franz_see]

Hi All,

As a general rule of thumb, I know that tortoises can't be sexed until a certain size. However, I stumbled upon this while I was searching the net on how to sex indian star tortoises : http://www.chelonia.org/sexing/sexing_Geochelone_elegans.htm

It seems to indicate that even at a small size, you can already tell difference between a male vs a female with its tail. I don't see much information elsewhere about how big should an indian star be before you can sex them.

How accurate is that site? Can you really tell the sex of an indian star tortoise even from at a small size unlike the other tortoises?

Thanks,
Franz

 

[G-stars]

From my experience, for indian stars it's at 4 inches. However for males you may be able to tell at a younger age. If the tail looks like a male it's a male. With females it can go either way before 4 inches.

 

[franz_see]

Thanks @G-stars !

Very informative. So for example though, of the 4 indian stars below, which ones are males, which ones are females, and which ones are too early to tell? Thanks!

Indian Star #1 : Lei



Indian Star #2 : AB



Indian Star #3 : Choo



Indian Star #4 : Ecsta

 

[G-stars]

Too early to tell yet. These look to small to sex. How big are they?

 

[franz_see]

@G-stars

Indian Star #1 : Lei
Is 4.5cm (1.77")

Indian Star #2 : AB
Is 4.2cm (1.65")

Indian Star #3 : Choo
Is 6.2cm (2.44")

Indian Star #4 : Ecsta
Is 6.5cm (2.56")

 

[G-stars]

I would wait until they were at least 8 cm.

 

[franz_see]

I would wait until they were at least 8 cm.

Thanks @G-stars!

 

[gedong]

@G-stars

Indian Star #1 : Lei
Is 4.5cm (1.77")

Indian Star #2 : AB
Is 4.2cm (1.65")

Indian Star #3 : Choo
Is 6.2cm (2.44")

Indian Star #4 : Ecsta
Is 6.5cm (2.56")

Hi Franz See, I believe these indian star now already big enough to be sexing... Do you have any current update on this?