Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, so today I adopted a "female" sulcata. The former owners drove from New York to my home in Florida to deliver her to me. They were here about an hour, just left 15 minutes ago. I went back to to watch her, and I picked her up to move her.....low and behold HE was flashing me!!! I assume that is what it was, it was not poopie! So I am wondering since the male parts got dirty, is that a bad thing? Do I need to wash it off before it goes back in? Or try to flush it out or whatever? How funny they have had her/him for five years thinking it was female, and I have her 15 minutes and he flashes me. He is about 5 years old, 10 inches, weighs about 7 pds.

Thanks,
Shawnon in St Pete

haha I found out in a similar way, except mine was in the bathtub. I thought mine was female until one day during "her" bath I thought she was pooping as usual (they seem to like to do that) and low and behold!, it was NOT a poopie!

The only thing I would suggest is bathing. Since you can't exactly ask him nicely to flash you again so you can clean it.... soak him in a warm bath. Mine since the "incident" seems to do it quite frequently, flash me in the bathtub that is. Good luck!

Just leave it, it'll be fine. Sometimes it gets dirty but it
tends to clean itself on the way back in. I know someone posted
here that had two large males, that would drag theirs around
outside, covered in grass and dirt, no problem.

mine fanned for the first time also right around 7 pounds.
For only 10 inches they could only guess it was female, which
it obviously isn't.

10 inches is kind of small for 5 years old. Mine are 11", 10.5" and 8.5" and they are around 3 years old.

i have to agree that the sulcatta is to small for 5 yrs of age.
my male is 4 yrs and has a 13inch wide x 19 inch long plastron.
oh i feed him a lot of romaine with no ill affects. although i live in florida and he is in an outside pen
thanks for listening
ric morales