- Joined
- Dec 7, 2012
- Messages
- 28
Just before Christmas I got 2 x Russian tortoises, they were so small and only about 1 year old. I got them from an independent shop in the UK which has a good reputation, but it seems their staff were poorly trained and advised me 2 would be company for each other.
I bought a large indoor enclosure and spent many hours watching them mooch around their new home. I named them Basil and Sybil even though they were too young to determine sex. Sybil was slightly larger than Basil.
After about 1 week I noticed Sybil slowly withdrawing, and as the weeks went on she got progressively worse. Her eyes were swollen, she wasn't eating and it eventually became apparent she had an RI and worms. With some help from antibiotics I slowly nursed her back to health but by this time she wasn't really eating or interacting at all. She would just bury herself in the corner of the enclosure all day and night.
Meanwhile Basil was thriving, he was now larger than Sybil and full of life. I started to notice that when I did manage to get Sybil to munch on a tiny bit of food, Basil would march over, and claim the lettuce leaf for himself! She would then slowly retreat back to her corner. Basil would also urinate all over the food. Sybil was rapidly losing wait, felt hollow and my vet thought she wouldn't last very long at all. I was absolutely gutted.
After seeking some advice on this forum I began to realise that Russians should not be housed together ...... I was sure that Basil was dominating and bullying Sybil. I started to look for alternative accommodation for Basil (with a friend or relative) but it was taking a few weeks to sort out.
Then only a few days ago, my husband was watching them both in the enclosure. He saw Basil eating and when Sybil strolled passed to get to her 'corner' Basil lunged forward and bit her leg and wouldn't let go!!
I immediately separated them, and Basil now lives with my mum (nanny Jac). Within 24 hours Sybil was like a new tortoise. She was wondering around her enclosure, eating lots of food and hasn't yet been anywhere near her 'corner'. Fantastic!
Sorry this is so long winded but I can only hope that it may stop someone from making the mistake that I did. Or if you have 2 RT's and recognise any of the above signs ...... Please please separate them. Even if the aggression isn't obvious, it could still be there!!
I bought a large indoor enclosure and spent many hours watching them mooch around their new home. I named them Basil and Sybil even though they were too young to determine sex. Sybil was slightly larger than Basil.
After about 1 week I noticed Sybil slowly withdrawing, and as the weeks went on she got progressively worse. Her eyes were swollen, she wasn't eating and it eventually became apparent she had an RI and worms. With some help from antibiotics I slowly nursed her back to health but by this time she wasn't really eating or interacting at all. She would just bury herself in the corner of the enclosure all day and night.
Meanwhile Basil was thriving, he was now larger than Sybil and full of life. I started to notice that when I did manage to get Sybil to munch on a tiny bit of food, Basil would march over, and claim the lettuce leaf for himself! She would then slowly retreat back to her corner. Basil would also urinate all over the food. Sybil was rapidly losing wait, felt hollow and my vet thought she wouldn't last very long at all. I was absolutely gutted.
After seeking some advice on this forum I began to realise that Russians should not be housed together ...... I was sure that Basil was dominating and bullying Sybil. I started to look for alternative accommodation for Basil (with a friend or relative) but it was taking a few weeks to sort out.
Then only a few days ago, my husband was watching them both in the enclosure. He saw Basil eating and when Sybil strolled passed to get to her 'corner' Basil lunged forward and bit her leg and wouldn't let go!!
I immediately separated them, and Basil now lives with my mum (nanny Jac). Within 24 hours Sybil was like a new tortoise. She was wondering around her enclosure, eating lots of food and hasn't yet been anywhere near her 'corner'. Fantastic!
Sorry this is so long winded but I can only hope that it may stop someone from making the mistake that I did. Or if you have 2 RT's and recognise any of the above signs ...... Please please separate them. Even if the aggression isn't obvious, it could still be there!!