Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I posted this a few weeks back for the general masses but got no response.

I got in a rescue (yellowfoot) that has MBD (her Carapace is very "humped at the top and slopes down to a fairly normal look at the posterior) Legs are slightly splayed out (typical thing) but no pyramiding at all. Her plastron is Flat FLAT as an iron. (she is about 9-10 inches long SCL)

After quarantine, workups, worming, antibiotics for some skin infections etc. She is in tip top shape and I put her with my redfoot pair (young male about 6-7 inches and a female 13 inches).

She sniffed their faces alot and began mounting them. I remember once in a post you had mentioned that redfoot females tend to keep their tail curled in while males tend to leave it straight out (this is the case with my pair). The "female" yellowfoot keeps her tail out at all times and it is rather thick. Also the vent appears to me toward the end of the tail though it is relatively roundish in appearance like female would be.

Today I caught "her" truly mounting my large female redfoot with her neck stretched out and mouth gaping open (like a male in full blow mating drive). I lifted her off the redfoot and saw a clear fluid around the vent area but I have yet to see her fan a penis of any sort.

FINALLY MY QUESTION -- Is it more likely that this animal is a male and the plastron is flat because of the MBD? or is it a common practice for females to mount other animals as a dominance issue. (my female redfoot does not attempt this behavior at all and my little male -- though following my female around alot never attempts it either -- he is still a bit small.)

Your insights would be greatly appreciated.

Steve

You know what they say about experts... they are nothing more than premature... (you know).
I'm never at a loss for an opinion or a general word and, if you hadn't notice, I like to talk a lot about turtles/tortoises. I'm far from an 'Expert' and actually hope I never become one. The majority of the 'Experts' out there tend to be... (you know).
That said, some people do believe that tortoises mounting other tortoises are a sign of dominance. Females do it to females... Males to males... Maybe it is a dominance thing or maybe it is just 'fun'. The bottom line is that it is a very common behavior. I've even seen this in hatchlings.
Ed

Ed-- first let me apologize for call you an "expert" I would never mean to imply that you where a (ya know) at any time .

Second, I thank you for your opinion. Guess I will just have to wait and see if this gender bender tort. ever starts fanning. He or she notwithstanding -- IT is being a real nuisance to the other two. They have finally resigned themselves to it and just go about their normal routines with this he/she tort attached to their back sides.

(no offence taken)
I recently was given back a Libyan graeca that I thought (hope is a female) but 'she' keeps mounting everything in sight. No exposure yet. I'm still hoping it is a female. It also did not have the greatest diet but is no worse for the wear and is actually very healthy.
Ed