Female tortoise climbing male

Hi all, I've got one female and one male they've been together since birth. I've noticed the female climbs the male constantly she's a few grams smaller but doesn't look it. There's enough space, stones and a bridge but only the male uses it, the female just wants to climb him and he does nothing. She doesn't have her genitals out nor he. They're two years old and not wanting to separate them yet as they're not that big and we could do with the space. Any ideas please?

Hello and welcome.

At two years old, you can't usually tell the sexes.

Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Even when they are not overtly bullying, as yours are, it is very stressful and not good for them. Star tortoises seem to be more susceptible to this sort of long term chronic stress than some other species too.

They need to be separated ASAP.

Thanks very much we were aware of bullying before getting them but wanted to conserve space, the female was very shy and the male very outgoing. I noticed the male has a long pointed end whilst the female has a cloaca I never thought she'll be the bully it's truly mind-boggling. We've started shopping for raw materials to build another vivarium. It's gotten to the point where I can't remember looking into their tank and not seeing her on top of him, they're both coming up to 460 grams so I thought I better ask because that's a lot of pressure to constantly place on him. Thanks for your reply.

I agree with Tom

Climbing is part of asserting dominance. It means that one is asserting it's right to territory.

Tortoises are loners. The don't need, want or particularly like company. Another tortoise, regardless of gender or relationship, is simply a rival for food and space.

Tortoises are bullies. They will use both mental and physical tactics to convince another tort to leave.

Cuddling up, for example, is simply one tort trying to stop another from sleeping in a particular spot.

What you are seeing is physical bullying.

These two must be separated and kept entirely separately.

Should they eventually prove to be male and female, and it's anyone's guess until they are nearly full grown, and you wish to breed then introduce them to mate before separating them again.

Thanks very much just didn't believe it, from sleeping together and being peaceful most times to non stop climbing and pushing him with all her weight. We've divided the existing tank into two for now by securing a piece of wood in the middle until we build the new tank.

Bola & Ian said:

Thanks very much just didn't believe it, from sleeping together and being peaceful most times to non stop climbing and pushing him with all her weight. We've divided the existing tank into two for now by securing a piece of wood in the middle until we build the new tank.

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Sleeping together is not peaceful. That is the dominant tortoise try to crowd the other one and intimidate it out of its territory.

Same with sitting on the food, following, cuddling etc… All tortoise aggression.

Yikes thanks shows what little information I know on them

It can be difficult to not associate mammal behavior with our tortoises.
Many keepers have thought that "following each other around" and "sleeping together" were signs that they were getting along well and had become friends.
In fact, it sounds like you have some pretty serious dominance issues going on. Even if it doesn't include biting. (sometimes it does) The tortoise being dominated will become ill and will not thrive. Tortoises don't make friends.

That explains a lot, the bullied is a few grams bigger but has gone from being very bubbly to very quiet. The division of the vivarium has made all the difference, both are content, eating well and look okay. Will monitor them daily for a few days. But thanks to everyone for the advice, ignorance would have cost me so much x

Bola & Ian said:

That explains a lot, the bullied is a few grams bigger but has gone from being very bubbly to very quiet. The division of the vivarium has made all the difference, both are content, eating well and look okay. Will monitor them daily for a few days. But thanks to everyone for the advice, ignorance would have cost me so much x

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Happy Birthday?

I noted my female will mount the male when she is in heat I think. Generally happens like once a year