Still too young?

[mattgrizzlybear]

Is my tommy still too young to know the sex? He is eight months old, he hatched the 21st of May. I have a shot of his head scutes because I heard you could tell the sex by seeing what arrangement they are in. I also have a tail shot and some others. He is a little over 3 inches. Thank you and here are the pics.

View attachment 35282



View attachment 35283



View attachment 35284

 

[Redstrike]

Hi Matt,
May be my computer/connection, but I don't see any pictures. I can see you tried to attach them... Like I said, could be an error on my end.

I've not heard of sexing tortoises using their head scales, do you recall where you came across that information? I would like to look into this.

What I am familair with is looking at angles of the anal scutes (< 90º and likely a female, > 90º likely a male), tail length (males long, females short), distance from tail-tip to cloacal opening (again, males have a greater distance than females), and concavity of the plastron (males concave, females not so much - though some display this!). At your tortoises current age, examining the anal scutes would not be very telling. Tail length, distance from tail length to cloacal opening, and concavity are also subject to change with growth and further development.

Some females may have a more concave plastron that would hint male, so you have to keep a running tally of all these characteristics in mind when considering the sex of a captive tortoise. Some are trickier than others, but I'd say your tort is a few years away from telling you much. Just my opinion.

 

[RedfootsRule]

Theres no credible information to determine the sex of a tortoise by the head scutes. If they were, our job would be a lot easier here

Personally, I don't even bother beginning to guess a tortoises' sex til 6-7". And even then, there is a good chance your wrong. They change...Don't ask how, but one day you will look and say definite male. A year later you will say this is a female...So there is really no point in guessing, for me. I have been wrong to many times on tortoises' that I showed to several "experts". Several time, we all agree on a sex, and then two years later that male laid eggs.....Or that female displayed.
Bottom line, sexing isn't full-proof. If you post a picture, there is a possibility of guessing....But you will likely be wrong at this size.

 

[JoesMum]

I also can't see the pictures, but at 3" he is too small to tell.

A good clear shot of the plastron (undershell) including the tail is needed when he's at least doubled in size... in a few years time!

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Okay I got some new pics. Also about the head acute thing, I think I got it confused with how to tell if it is a redfoot or a yellowfoot. Thank you!

 

[RedfootsRule]

Pics didn't come up.

 

[mattgrizzlybear]

Oh well he is too young anyway. I will delete this thread.

---

Sorry I mean just end this thread or something.