The Tortoise Table

Hi, I have just taken my Sulcata tortoise out of her bath and noticed a strange part of her body sticking out her rear end. She had pooped as usual. Can any one advise me what this is and is it a problem? Sorry pic isn't very clear. [attachment=0]IMG_20201102_131937.jpg[/attachment]

No, not a problem at all. As long as it go back to normal soon, he is just letting you know he is a male (or female, they flash too).

Lin

Ooops, I thought there was something major wrong. I think she is female, but now not so sure!

I couldn't see clearly enough from your photo if this is a male tortoise's penis, which is perfectly normal, and they do 'flash', or whether this is a female tortoise with an intestinal or cloacal prolapse, and that is not normal. As far as I know female tortoises don't 'flash' but can have prolapses, and these can be serious. Lin were you meaning a prolapse when you said about female tortoises flashing?

As I said, I couldn't see clearly what was coming out of your tortoise, but here is an article about a sulcata with a prolapse, with some photos
http://www.chelonia.org/articles/Cloacal_prolapse.htm
and here are some photos of male tortoises' organs (you have to scroll down a bit): https://www.justanswer.com/pet-reptile/ ... -rear.html So maybe those can help you decide which it was.

It probably is just a male, showing off, but If it is a prolapse and hasn't gone in after a short period of time, then you can coat it in ordinary sugar, and that often does the trick (here is an article from The Tortoise Trust on how to treat a prolapse with sugar: https://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/prolapse.htm

How old is your tortoise? If you send us a photo of your tortoise's underside, with the tail clearly showing, we ought to be able to tell you what sex it is.

Best,
Nina

Looking at some more photos I am sure you have a female as you thought.

Lin


helenlohel@msn.com wrote:
> Ooops, I thought there was something major wrong. I think she is female,
> but now not so sure!

And I've done some further checking and females do sometimes flash their clitoris, so Lin was right about females sometimes flashing. Has it gone back in yet?

Nina

Yes it went back in quite quickly. I have tried to post a pic to help confirm the sex, but it is saying the file is too large?

You can post it to me or Nina, by sending it to contact@thetortoisetable.org.uk

Lin

Thanks, email sent

Hi Helen.
Although at only two years old I would say its almost impossible to sex a tortoise. So with that in mind I would say its a female but with room to change in a few years time.

Lin

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