Sexing Chester

[emma_mcraf]

It'll be Chester's 2nd birthday on Tuesday and I've waited until now to put up some sexing photos and see what everyone thinks he is. He was originally going to be given a female name but on the morning he hatched, I had an instinct he was going to be male and changed my mind, naming him Chester instead.
Two years on and I still think he's male but I'll be interested in other opinions.
He currently weighs 278g and his SCL is 124mm.







So does anyone think that Chester needs a name change?

[alley cat]

Although the tail looks fairly long the flower is close to the body and going by shell seams I am going for female!!

[Catwoman63]

I think Chester is female, Roxys tail is like that and at first I thought she was a he, but definately female given yesterday's event, and what a beauty chester is Emma x

[emma_mcraf]

Oooh......well, I did incubate for a female but because Chester hatched later than I thought on day 63, I suspected that perhaps the temperature in the incubator wasn't as warm as I thought and that the hatchling was probably male.
Funnily enough I recently mentioned to Suze on one of her posts that I have always thought Chester was male but recently have had a few doubts. I know two years old is still really young to be certain though.

[Catwoman63]

I would imagine at 12.4mm and how the cloaca looks Chester is definately female to me Emma, what would you rename her to? X

[emma_mcraf]

Originally Posted by Catwoman63

I would imagine at 12.4mm and how the cloaca looks Chester is definately female to me Emma, what would you rename her to? X

I've had a shortlist for a month or two.
I'd have to narrow it down.....
I've been prepared because Oliver was originally Tabitha (now I have my female Tabitha - Chester's mum) and Hugo was originally Florence (and yes....we have a female Florence again. The names were too good not to use again), so I suspected I could well have to rename Chester, which of course means I'll need another pet one day to take the name Chester, but we won't tell my hubby that!!

[Catwoman63]

Hahaha, I hid the fact I got more torts until they were spotted in a new enclosure, then it was too late for anyone to stop me x

[Suze65]

I agree with female, as Alley said , his flower is little and round and quit close to the base of the tale, so I would go with female.

[emma_mcraf]

Well....looks like a name change is going to be in order. Sorry Suze, but I don't think Phoebe and Chester are going to be meeting to make babies in the future.

I really didn't mind either way as Chester has his own table and outside enclosure BUT if it's looking likely it's a female, it may be possible to rework the living arrangements at some point and just maybe....possibly....I could squeeze in one more female!!!
I've always had my heart set on a female herc, but they are hard to come by, but if one did turn up I might just be able to give it some serious thought, whereas I thought I'd have to wait until I got my dedicated tort room.
Hmmmm.......

[Suze65]

Lol no I don't think they are Emma , nice to have another little girl tho ☺️