Is my male Russian Tortoise a girl.....and egg bound?

Question

Well, I baught "Him" a month ago and seperated 'him' with my other Tortoises and put 'him' in 'his' own cage. Now 'he' is digging holes that look like mole holes, The Vet and them Seller Said they "THAUGHT' it was a boy. Now 'he' is getting less active and digging hole in the basking light's path. I didn't experiance with any of my other males, could it just be him?

- 'He' was in a tank with 12 other tortoises for 5 days.

Answer 1

Stress is key, with reptiles.  They tend to be loaners, and only find each other for breeding.

I can't address this issue, since I don't know the tortoise's age/species, nor your present climate/temperature/time of year where you are.

You state at first that he is alone, and then that despite the issues - he's now with 12 others!

Did you remove him from quarantine?  And while he was unstable?  Now you may have 12 sick turtles... instead of one in isolation...

MOST species of turtles have basic indicators: a longer tail; a concaved, instead of convexed under shell (not the carapice - the unbroken bottom plate), to fit leaning over the shell of a female...

Most males have wider heads.  Most males are more patterned, or more bightly colored.

You indicate this is a tortoise, and not a turtle.  It's a land dwelling creature?

Without the age, species, and etc.; it nearly impossible to comment here.

If you truly desire help - then rephrase your question/provide more information, and state the species, and your location by country.  My "summer" is very different, to respond, than "your winter."

Answer 2

Here is the easiest way to tell a boy from a girl look on the bottom of the shell

it there is a divet its a male

if its flat its a female

the divit is so the male can hook onto the female adn mot fall off so loom under neath

Answer 3

male tortoises will dig holes to escape from the heat check you do not have the tank too hot for this little fella, here is a sight that will show you how to s*x a tortoise, but it is not always easy before they reach 5 years but is possible, http://www.chelonia.org/sexing/sexing_Te... wow in a tank with 12 other tortoises, you can't keep males together they will fight for territory, also i hope it is a very big tank, as if you over crowed tortoises they can get sick and usually if one goes down with something they all can, a tortoise can be a carrier and not show any signs of sickness but another tortoises can be infected, it is best to keep tortoises in trios of two females to one male or keep them in groups of no more than 5 females of the same size, best of luck honey hope everything works out.

Answer 4

Males often dig holes, especially to escape hot, dry weather or to hibernate. How is the environment there?

Nests are dug with the back legs and are only about 3-6" deep. Hiding holes are deeper and dug mostly with the front feet or a shuffling motion.

There is a lot of variation in Russians. I would not worry much.