Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have 3 golden greeks. I thought 1 was a male due to the longer tail, and the other 2 females, due to the shorter fat tails. Well, to my surprise, the larger so called 'Female" was mating with the other female?? Is it true that you can tell the sex by the tail, or is that only partially correct??

Some people think it is a dominance thing... which it could be. It is fairly common among most tortoises for females to mount females and so on.
Ed

Testudo females will mount other males and/or females - usually associated with getting ready to lay eggs, or cramped housing. Males generally have much longer tails - and if they are adults, you will be able to tell the difference pretty easy.

Have any photos?

Bill G.

maybe Darrell can help:
sex determination of golden greeks at the WCT

Ok, thanks for all the help. Currently they are inside due to all the storms we have have in Illinois. So they have not been able to go out in their outdoor pen. they are housed in a 5ft by 3 ft enclosure. After the soc alled female mounted the other female, theyre ws actual fluid that was passed by the one mounting??

Urates were passed during all the excitement along with some urine.

What part of IL are you from?

I am in Joliet, about an hour south of downtown Chicago.
Do you also live in Illinois?? Matt

Yes I live in Washington, IL. That is :15 from Peoria.
Do you ever go looking for herps in the wild? I want to go to Shawnee this fall or next spring.