What gender is my tortoise?

[RyanTip]

So when I got my tortoise I was told it was a male based on the tale. When I took it to the vet, I was told it was a female based on the shell structure on the stomach side. The stomach side would be concaved if it was a male to mount the female for reproduction. How can I tell myself?

 

[dmmj]

with Russians the concave shell is not a sexual characteristic. look at the tail and the vent on the tail a slit is a male a star or asterisk is a female easiest way to tell

 

[W Shaw]

If he's old enough to tell, females have very short, triangular tails, while males have longer tails, which they carry tucked to the side. Not all of the species show a distinct concavity in the plastron.

 

[Jodie]

Post a picture of the tail n we can help. I would find another vet. That one doesn't know much about tortoises.

 

[RyanTip]

If he's old enough to tell, females have very short, triangular tails, while males have longer tails, which they carry tucked to the side. Not all of the species show a distinct concavity in the plastron.

His tail is decently long and is tucked to the side so I would believe it is a male. Thank you!

 

[Tom]

Male russians don't have concave plastrons. Time for a new vet. This one does not know common things about common tortoises. What else does he/she not know.

 

[W Shaw]

His tail is decently long and is tucked to the side so I would believe it is a male. Thank you!

Yep! He's a little boy!