what is the best age to sex a Hermann's tortoise, is it about 7 or 8 yrs?
t_mclellan said:Its more a size thing than age.
t_mclellan said:What kind of tortoise are we talking about?
Tracy Gould said:Hi i have a 1 yr old Eastern Herman I have noticed Shelby carrys the Tail to the Side so i am guessing that mean he's Male, am i right or do females do this now and again too?
GBtortoises said:Tracy Gould said:Hi i have a 1 yr old Eastern Herman I have noticed Shelby carrys the Tail to the Side so i am guessing that mean he's Male, am i right or do females do this now and again too?
The tail being to the side doesn't really carry much accuracy as far as determining male or female, especially at such a young age and assumed small size. Larger size males and females tails are usually to the side. The main clue to determining gender in smaller Hermann's tortoises the size and shape of the tail. As they develop a male will usually become obvious by what appears to be the exaggerated size of the tail compared to it's body. Females not only develop later and at a larger body size but occasionally there is a male that simply doesn't have an obviously large tail.
GBtortoises said:"Does the Concave Pastronform when they are older as Shelby is flat at the moment?"
Plastron concavity will usually develop as a male Hermann's reaches full sexual maturity size, around 4" and up, depending upon individual. A concave plastron is not always well pronounced in Hermann's as it is in some other species such as Marginateds and Ibera.