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Old 02-08-2013, 11:41 AM   #1
Frazer31383
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Default Is this normal? Could they be male & female?

I know that a couple of people have asked the same thing recently, but our younger Hermann Liz (male we think) has been humping her older brother Shelby.
I have read in other posts that this may be a dominance thing but when he is doing it, Shelby just seems to lay there and take it despite being the older and larger tortoise. Liz is around 18 months old and Shelby will be 2 years in October.

A large part of me is hoping that they are not both male and that Shelby is in fact female and maybe we will have some babies in future. My gut feeling and what others have previously said tells me that they are probably both males though.

I have attached a couple of plastron pics (sorry don't know how to rotate them) to see what others think and a pic of the 'act' in progress (mouth open and all!)





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Old 02-08-2013, 11:49 AM   #2
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think they both look male to me, post pics in the identification section x
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Old 02-08-2013, 12:54 PM   #3
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I think they are both male
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Old 02-08-2013, 12:57 PM   #4
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I'm afraid I'd say two males as well.
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Old 02-08-2013, 01:44 PM   #5
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Thank you all....

Have to say I'm a bit disappointed but knew deep down anyway. Any ideas why he is doing it and why the other tort is so accepting of him doing it, despite being older and larger?
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Old 02-08-2013, 02:25 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frazer31383 View Post
Thank you all....

Have to say I'm a bit disappointed but knew deep down anyway. Any ideas why he is doing it and why the other tort is so accepting of him doing it, despite being older and larger?
Its just them sorting out who is alpha male:0)
Provided you don't introduce females, once they have sorted out the alpha male thing, they can get on ok. Provided they have enough space. You could well have problems introducing females between the males
:0)
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Old 02-08-2013, 02:38 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sandy View Post
Its just them sorting out who is alpha male:0)
Provided you don't introduce females, once they have sorted out the alpha male thing, they can get on ok. Provided they have enough space. You could well have problems introducing females between the males
:0)
Thanks Sandy. That is interesting to know. I think they have plenty of space at the moment as they share a 4ft by 2ft table when inside and have a 7ft by 5ft outdoor enclosure. I have also just purchased a 7ft by 5ft shed to join on to the outdoor enclosure to give indoor housing.

I was planning to get some females at some point but these will probably live in the table or in a separate part of the shed when that is ready for next spring when they come out of hibernation.

If I was to introduce females to males or vice versa would you say that I would need at least 3 females or would you say more?

Thanks

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Old 02-08-2013, 04:48 PM   #8
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Torts just seem to hump anything that resembles a tortoise..lol
Males with males, females with females, males with females.

The strangest thing I saw Lily do was start butting my pink winter fleece.
Now if anyone has an explanation for that one I'd be curious to hear it.
Domination...hierarchy...alpha male - over a pink fleece??
Doesn't look remotely like a tort either.

xx
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Old 02-08-2013, 06:31 PM   #9
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Animals can be such funny creatures sometimes!

Our female ShihTzu was the same when we first got our male kitten! She also used to do the same to my daughters leg when she was wearing her Onesie back in the winter!

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Torts just seem to hump anything that resembles a tortoise..lol
Males with males, females with females, males with females.

The strangest thing I saw Lily do was start butting my pink winter fleece.
Now if anyone has an explanation for that one I'd be curious to hear it.
Domination...hierarchy...alpha male - over a pink fleece??
Doesn't look remotely like a tort either.

xx
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Old 02-08-2013, 06:40 PM   #10
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It's very odd Frazer...
I mean being in love with a fleece and trying to show who's boss, gimme a break lol. xx
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