'She' is definitely humping!!!

worm · 19-05-2013, 09:56 PM

Hi ,I bought two 7yrr old female hermanns last October to go with my 6 yr old female ,and had my doubts from the start that one looked like a male - longer tail and shell slightly more of a v shape by tail. I was reassured by the breeder they were both females .I had them transported by reptile courier so only saw lots of photos. Anyway ,my mum said she thought one was trying to mount the other and ive seen it, but just thought it was trying to barge past the others! Well today she/he was definitely on her sisters back with its mouth wide open ! So is it likely to be male or do young females do this too???What else do i look out for? She is not agressive or anything ...yet! I will be annoyed if it is a male as i will have to seperate them at some point i guess.

thanks Tracey

Catwoman63 · 19-05-2013, 10:03 PM

Hiya, I have 5 females and not seen that behaviour in any of them, however my male displays this behaviour and he was sexed as female several times until he displayed his organ and now humps the females if he spots one although now I keep him seperate from the girls, best to post some photos of the underside and tail in the identification and sexing thread and an expert will be along to sex your tortoises x

alley cat · 19-05-2013, 10:06 PM

My female Horsfields that are just at the right size to start laying but haven't laid yet, are doing this all the time, it would be very easy to think they are male, but I know they are definitely not

burnt toast · 20-05-2013, 10:28 AM

I have females who do this too. Best thing to do is take some pictures of its tail & post in ID? sexing section & people will have a go at sexing.

sandy · 20-05-2013, 04:46 PM

Females generally mount other females if they are gravid. Mine do it all the time, until the eggs are laid.
You can get the odd female, who will try and dominate another female for alpha female, but its not that common.

Catwoman63 · 21-05-2013, 07:34 PM

That's interesting I must have the laziest laid back females as I have never seen them do this, only the occasional butt or shove lol, but then again I don't have a male in with them yet to liven them up lol x

worm · 22-05-2013, 08:27 PM

Very interesting , thank you for the replies . I will post a pic in the other section if I can work out how to post pictures !!

19-05-2013, 09:56 PM	#1
worm Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 55	'She' is definitely humping!!! Hi ,I bought two 7yrr old female hermanns last October to go with my 6 yr old female ,and had my doubts from the start that one looked like a male - longer tail and shell slightly more of a v shape by tail. I was reassured by the breeder they were both females .I had them transported by reptile courier so only saw lots of photos. Anyway ,my mum said she thought one was trying to mount the other and ive seen it, but just thought it was trying to barge past the others! Well today she/he was definitely on her sisters back with its mouth wide open ! So is it likely to be male or do young females do this too???What else do i look out for? She is not agressive or anything ...yet! I will be annoyed if it is a male as i will have to seperate them at some point i guess. thanks Tracey

19-05-2013, 10:03 PM	#2
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	Hiya, I have 5 females and not seen that behaviour in any of them, however my male displays this behaviour and he was sexed as female several times until he displayed his organ and now humps the females if he spots one although now I keep him seperate from the girls, best to post some photos of the underside and tail in the identification and sexing thread and an expert will be along to sex your tortoises x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

20-05-2013, 04:46 PM	#5
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	Females generally mount other females if they are gravid. Mine do it all the time, until the eggs are laid. You can get the odd female, who will try and dominate another female for alpha female, but its not that common. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

21-05-2013, 07:34 PM	#6
Catwoman63 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South East England Posts: 6,739	That's interesting I must have the laziest laid back females as I have never seen them do this, only the occasional butt or shove lol, but then again I don't have a male in with them yet to liven them up lol x __________________ BEV XXX 0.3.0 - T Horsfieldii (Xena, Zelda & Lilly) 2.2.0 - TG Terrestris (Zeus, Astreus / Zagreus & Alexia) 1.2.0 - Zebra Finches (Gunner / Bonnie & May) 0.1.0 - SBT (Hazel) 1.0.0 - FBD (Ted)

19-05-2013, 10:06 PM	#3
alley cat Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somerset Posts: 3,150	My female Horsfields that are just at the right size to start laying but haven't laid yet, are doing this all the time, it would be very easy to think they are male, but I know they are definitely not

20-05-2013, 10:28 AM	#4
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,245	I have females who do this too. Best thing to do is take some pictures of its tail & post in ID? sexing section & people will have a go at sexing.

22-05-2013, 08:27 PM	#7
worm Member Egg Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 55	Very interesting , thank you for the replies . I will post a pic in the other section if I can work out how to post pictures !!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)