Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male California desert tortoise that exhibits very odd behavior. At least to me it seems so. He is 15 years old, and for the last 3 years he has acted like he is female at certain time during the Spring. He digs a nest with his back feet, then he moves up so his rear end is over the hole, then he sits there about a half hour or so as if he is laying eggs. Then he covers his imaginary eggs, although not as thoroughly as a female would. Then he strolls off. I have seen him do this maybe 5 or 6 times a year, always during Spring and early Summer. He may do it more often, I've just not been around to witness it.

As far as normal male behavior, he mates with the females constantly, and I THINK he has fathered at least 2 clutches of eggs, although I can't be positive. I have another male as well. Everyone I've talked to says he must actually be a female that I have misidentified, but he certainly looks male, with a concave plastron, long tail, etc. And he has never actually produced an egg that I have seen.

Anyone ever seen this before? It's got me perplexed. I must say he freaks me out sometimes.

I have seen females acting like males, try to copulate with other tortoise, but males acting like females is new for me, thanks for share your experience

Yeah, I've talked to quite a few tortoise folks about it, and I have read a whole lot on tortoise mating habits, but I have never heard of this before. Females mounting other tortoises, yes, but not a male who plays mommy.

This is a new one to me.
I have females that will mount each other and I use this as an indicator for when to introduce the males.

Never heard of a male do this though!

no mistaking this, any questions about concave plastrons and
long tails aside, here's the proof - male.

Have you seen your tortoise actually "mating" with the females
or just mounting them. I've read about this on the forum and
obviously there's a difference in the two acts. I'll admit
I'm not versed on tortoise breeding as I am not interested
in it myself (I am interested in animal behavior is why I
read your post), and just passing along what I've read and a
pic of my torotise for reference - by the way, that's an old
pic of him with a 17" long SCL and as you can see he is extended
well over half that length. I've managed to get just a few
pics. of him doing this over the years for reference for other
people. When I first saw this (he was 7 pounds at the time) I
thought his guts fell out and he was going to die! niki

Well, my male doesn't have a ridiculous looking artichoke on a stick coming out of him, if that's what you mean. Jeeze, that's disgusting.

I am certain that I have seen him truly mating with the females. He even did the whole ritual of biting and ramming, which I have never seen a female do, even though I have seen plenty of females mounting other females and even males. Some tortoise "experts" I talked to have suggested maybe he was born as sort of a he/she. I have never heard of a tortoise hermaphrodite, but I suppose it could happen. Maybe I should move to Hollywood where he may feel more comfortable.

Some tortoise "experts" I talked to have suggested maybe he was born as sort of a he/she. I have never heard of a tortoise hermaphrodite, but I suppose it could happen.

There are examples of female tortoises having a psuedo-hemipenis so who knows. From what I have read these females can and do reproduce successfully.
Good luck with your mystery!
Jackie Lapradd

I'm sorry... I can't let this pass.
Hemipenis is one of 2 sexual organs associated with lizards and snakes... saurians (i think).
Chelonians only have one penis.
Ed

nm

I know it's strange to say this and even more strange if you think about it but, have you considered putting both 'males' together? Look at it this way, if 'he' turns out to be a 'she' then maybe that's what she needs. If it's a 'he', then perhaps that will teach him not to behave like a female. LOL (No offence.)

I have two males and two females and they are all together. That's why I am not positive if this confused male has fertilized any eggs. I THINK he has, because there is one female that I have never seen mate with the "normal" male, only the wacky one. This female and the normal male have never shown the slightest interest in each other. I have gotten fertile eggs from her, so I THINK the transsexual tortoise is the father. Of course, she may have mated with the normal one but I just didn't see it, but I doubt it.

Has your "normal" male ever shown any interest in your "confused" male? I would think that if "confused" truly was a mixed-up female, the male would know for sure and try to mate with her (or him...or whatever).

Sounds like a genetic/hormonal imbalance to me. I can understand females mounting as dominance behavior, but why would a male go through the motions of egg-laying, unless something was out of whack?
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Wouldn't it really be something if it turned out that "he" actually is a "he" and the behavior was to make false nests to throw off predators? I thought females of some Chelonia species did this.

Andrew Myers