That's funny they have been together six years with no problems. The Russian was fourteen yrs old when I put the year old leopard in the pen. It was really an accident the door between pens was left open. My vet is also the vet for River Banks Zoo ,one of the biggest zoos in the south east and he does not have a problem with it. Sleeping each other, eating ect... Is not. A sign of aggression, or bulling . I don't know where you get your info. You are right torts do not make friends but the do and will follow other torts. They learn which ones knows the best food areas the best shady areas and follow. Oh and the zoo I mentioned has three species together in the same pen. Be careful what you read on the web if you really want to get to understand your torts get away from the computer and put time in on the phone to zoo, breeders and take vacation to see them not just read about them. Just my opinion and fourteen yrs experience. And in my forty years I have only lost on torts to heart defect. I have had over thirty ,. Most rescues that I help zoo and wildlife department rehab.
This is where miss information comes from listening to people that think they know what's best with their mis information . I've been raising torts for more then 17 years ! I have leopards , Marginals , Russians , pancakes , Egyptians, Greeks , Hermanns , AZ desert torts , and Box turtles. Don't mix torts ! Don't keep them in pairs like dogs and cats . Torts need to be in trios or more to a group . And please keep helping the zoo they will get just what they pay for ( nothing ) !
There is a lotf good info here. The problem is most of the info on the web is from years ago before we knew as much as we do now. I know most people disagree with mixing and I get that and for sure not all torts mix but it can work. The most important thing is for people to take more time with any reptile because your right they are not dogs and cats and you have to be more attuned to them. I see so many people get tortoises to just throw them in an glass tank with lettuce and a light and think they are doing good. This web site does help A LOT with that for sure. But my thoughts are stop reading and start seeing
