Hi all.....
I am not sure if you can help with my enquiry. Im new to tortoise caring and information on the internet
seems to be very contradictary at times with regards tortoises.
I acquired one Horsefield tortoise about a 2 year old, before christmas, and a few weeks ago
purchased a second... nearer hatchling or 1 year old. Not having been a tortoise keeper before, I have read
tirelessly on the internet about caring for them, diet etc... and like to think I care for them lovingly.
I realise that at this age it is difficult to sex them, but then recently the first began to display mating tendencies in
circling the baby and head bobbing or nipping at the legs. Is this early in a 2-3 year old? I gather from this that the larger of the two
is definitely male, although no clues yet to the baby as I read that juveniles will practice with either sex...is this true?
My main query is with regards the bigger one.... several times recently he has set about his usual business, had a wee...but this was followed by something dark
which I thought he had just followed through. On looking closer it appeared purple and fleshy though,and after a while seemed to retract again.
I read that the sexual organs push out from the tail, was this possibly some kind of mating process then? Alternatively I read that this can happen due to
gut parasites etc..... other health problems..... and so Im a bit worried.
Can anyone enlighten me at all, or provide me with some information of vets specialising on tortoises near the Hertfordshire area?
Ta Steph
