i just bathed my torts and my bigger one (who i thought was female) did the weird moving about thing like they always do before doing the toilet. she urinated then swished her tail around and a few mins later when i thought she'd finished and picked her up and there was this thing that i can only think was a male part?! does it come out like that for males, she's never done that before and i've had her 2 years! i thought at first she was 'pooing' out something she shouldn't be! i thought she was a she? anyone know whats going on? sounds funny but im just a bit surprised! ty

Females also have an organ similar to the male but it is not as large. I've seen this in quite a few tortoises to the point where I believe that all tortoises have them.

A local vet confirmed this is why tortoises can't be sexed using an endoscope up the cloaca.

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Ed @ not allowed to post a link
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Hi Rachel

Exactly the same thing happen to my Leopard tortoise. I thought he was a girl. One day I was watching her and this thing came out from behind it was really frightening. I phoned the soceity I belong to and she said it could be a prolapse - I was in a state of panic and rushed her to the vet.

Only to be told that my little girl was actually a boy.