Shell Concerns for Lucy

[Wilda]

I inherited Lucy and Ethel from my daughter. She got them 3 years ago when they were 1-2 inches. This is Lucy. SHer shell is about 16" long but we notice a crack towards the back or abnormality. My daughter said the salesperson told her this would happen if it's a female. Can you all tell if this is the truth. I also notice the shell seems a little dry. Should i rub coconut oil on it. They live outdoors, have a large area, eat bermuda grasses, weeds, kale, collard greens and we get them cuttlebones with enough water and sun from here Arizona. They have a barn they go into every evening on there own. They run to me when they hear me call. They play with soccer balls. Lucy's pyramids are better. They were worse when we first got them 4-5 months ago. I'm just concerned about the weird line in Lucy's back. Should I be. Thank you all.

 

[Tom]

Temperatures at the higher end of the safe range for incubating tortoise eggs will result in more females. If temps get a little too high during incubation scute anomalies such as Lucy's can occur. This is why it is usually associated with females, but not always. Usually this is only cosmetic and does not hurt them in any way.

If you show us pics of their tails and anal scutes we can confirm their sexes for you.

There might be some helpful info for you in these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

And here is how I house mine at night and on the cooler winter days. I put these boxes in their outdoor enclosures and they can come and go as they please most of the time, but I can lock them in on cold nights.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/#post-632974

 

[Wilda]

Thank you. Here are a few pics.

 

[Tom]

Thank you. Here are a few pics.

Nice. Not a bad set up.

Your waters will work better for the tortoises if you dig out a hole under them and sink them into the ground so the rims are level with the surface, or close to it.

I'd love to verify the sexes. Post some plastron pics showing the tails and anal scutes when you have time.

 

[Mary Siarski]

Lucy and Ethel look very happy! Beautiful little girls.

 

[Wilda]

Lucy and Ethel look very happy! Beautiful little girls.

Thank you. Lucy's shell is approximately 17" long and Ethel's is about 13". Here they were today.

 

[Wilda]

Lucy and Ethel look very happy! Beautiful little girls.

Thank you. Lucy's shell is approximately 17" long and Ethel's is about 13". Here they were today.

Nice. Not a bad set up.

Your waters will work better for the tortoises if you dig out a hole under them and sink them into the ground so the rims are level with the surface, or close to it.

I'd love to verify the sexes. Post some plastron pics showing the tails and anal scutes when you have time.

Yes thank you. I will get the pics for you. Here they are from this afternoon.

 

[Wilda]

Nice. Not a bad set up.

Your waters will work better for the tortoises if you dig out a hole under them and sink them into the ground so the rims are level with the surface, or close to it.

I'd love to verify the sexes. Post some plastron pics showing the tails and anal scutes when you have time.

Here are the pics I promised to determine their sex. These first 3 pics are Ethel the smaller one. Thank you.

 

[Wilda]

Now these pics are of my larger tortoise, Lucy. If it's a boy it will be Ricky. Oh I hope its a girl. Don't want babies.

 

[Tom]

Here are the pics I promised to determine their sex. These first 3 pics are Ethel the smaller one. Thank you.

Ethel is a girl. Lucy is now Ricky. You are going to need to separate them very soon.

 

[Wilda]

Thank you. They can never be together? She is like 13" long and he is like 19" long.