If the lower shell is flat or convex, it is most likely female. When it comes to pet tortoises, there are 2 popular types of tortoises that are owned as pets, the Hermann’s Tortoise and the Russian Tortoise. Female Hermann's tortoises are typically larger than males once mature. Below that, the hatchling is more likely to be male. Hermann’s tortoises are temperature sex dependent in that the sex of the neonates can be manipulated by forcing the incubation temperature in a certain direction. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. I know a little about tortoises in general (diet, hibernation process etc) from having been around other types of tortoise. Owning a tortoise can be a great experience for reptile lovers. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Look for notches in the tortoise’s tail. Nobody knows for certain how long a captive-born Hermann's tortoise can live. And Early Signs Of Pyramiding? I know that he is male as he has the longer tail which I guess would make him at least 8 years as they are hard to sex before then. This can take between 4 and 20 years, depending on the species of tortoise. To tell a turtle's age, start by counting the number of rings inside one of the scales on the turtle's shell. Same adult male as a above with a slightly concave plastron. Go check out their channel once there is a video uploaded. This Male Testudo - posted in Hermann Tortoise: My herman tortoise is 8 years old so almost fully grown.When (s)he arrived, on the certificate from the breeder it said she was a girl, (she was three then) but im guessing that was a bit young to tell as she is now eight and her tail is HUGE and pointy... does this mean shes a boy? Another almost universal characteristic. Tell us what features and improvements you … Just bought a tortoise and wondering whether your new friend is male or female? How to Tell If a Tortoise Is Male or Female. There is a difference between the carapace size of female and male tortoises; females have longer shells than males.Even, there may be an overlap in size between a large male and a small female, so it is not possible to predict the gender-based solely on size.. the main way to tell a sex of a tortoise is, look on the underside of the shell if it is flat then it is a female, if it has an indentation then it is male, all males have this indentation so that they don't fall off when mounting the female. The male can be seen on the left in the paired pictures below. Pick up the tortoise. The most useful form of indoor accommodation for Hermann s Tortoises consists of a turtle table . Males are usually smaller than females, too. This article has been viewed 88,683 times. If you aren't able to tell just post a picture and I will be able to. This attractive tortoise, with a yellow and brown carapace, thick scales, and strong legs, is highly coveted for its mild temperament and its sheer beauty. Next, look at the end of the lower shell for a "V" or "U" shaped indent where the tail comes out. As can be seen in the close-up below, the !Here are a few pictures: A reasonable size for a hatchling is 2 foot by 3 foot, (60 cm by 90 cm). female's tail (on the right) is much shorter in length. If the lower shell is indented, or concave, it is most likely male. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If the plastron is indented, or concave, it is most likely male. ", "Sexed my two new ones within minutes of reading this, didn't realize it was so simple, thank you. It is sometimes possible to determine if a tortoise is male by identifying enlarged glands under the chin. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. !Here are a few pictures: Always handle a tortoise slowly and carefully, using both hands. Plastron- Indent. It is impossible to accurately sex a tortoise before it’s fully mature. The male's anus is positioned well away from the edge of its shell. ", "The tip that says a male's tail is longer than a female is most helpful! Chelonian Trust Main Page, schildkröten A flat or bulging plastron helps the female carry more eggs. % of people told us that this article helped them. Hold the tortoise up high enough to be able to see underneath it. Red-footed tortoises are an exception. Ive attached some photos so if anyone could help I would be extremely grateful. This offers her more protection. Hold the tortoise in both hands, being careful not to drop it. tortuga "Very clear and easy to follow! Approved. References If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Make sure they're female, then breed it with another tortoise of the opposite gender and same species. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Hermann's tortoise—along with the spur-thighed tortoise and the marginated tortoise—is a Mediterranean tortoise that hails from the rocky hillsides and oak and beech forests of Mediterranean Europe. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The western will usually be the most colorful and the eastern and Dalmatian will be extremely similar. The higher the temperature will result in females and the lower in males. Males explore to locate females and, once located, they use visual and olfactory cues to find a mate. With turtles, sex determination is based on temperature. Ive attached some photos so if anyone could help I would be extremely grateful. www.chelonia.org  - World Your tortoise is unlikely to just come right out and tell you, so you’ll need to do some investigation. A male will have a noticeably wider, more open shape than a female. "I love this, it helps a lot for my turtles.". Hermann’s Tortoises rarely grow larger than 18 cm (7.5 inches) Life span: The oldest known Hermann’s tortoise in the UK was over 110 years! Male: Mildly to deeply indented to allow them to better mount the female. Russian Tortoise Male Female; Tail: Have a long, thin and pointed tail with its cloaca shaped like a tiny slit close to the tip of the tail. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Tortoise eggs look like chicken eggs. Costa is a lovely Tortoise, he’s very active and we would love to find him a nice new home. left in the paired pictures below. A female’s tail is usually shorter than the end of a cotton swab. Tortoises make new tortoises by sexual reproduction. As you can see, the rear of the carapace is Difference Between Male and Female Hermann Tortoises In general female tortoise tend to be a little bigger than male tortoises. This has helped me decide that it's a male! Male Hermann's tortoises are slightly wider at the rear than the female. I have been given a Hermann Tortoise that was found in the garden of an abandoned house. I know a little about tortoises in general (diet, hibernation process etc) from having been around other types of tortoise. Greeks tails are blunt at the end and do not have a "nail tip" like Hermann's tortoises' tails do. This rarely varies, if ever, on 100% pure specimens. I really appreciate it, thank you! If you choose to bring in a photo, make sure to photograph the tail and the lower shell of the tortoise, as those are the most obvious indicators of a tortoise's sex. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Sex-Tortoises-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Sex-Tortoises-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/74\/Sex-Tortoises-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid873917-v4-728px-Sex-Tortoises-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"