Species should never be mixed. The disease potential is high. What one species from one part of the world can tolerate and live with, can be dealt to a different species from a different area. They are also not compatible behaviorally.
One way or another about what? Mixing species and tortoises giving each other foreign diseases? You need a study for that?
The people who have mixed species either have kept the sickness and death quiet, or they haven't realized the tortoises died because of spread of 'germs' due to mixing species.
Here is my opinion, If there is a study I think it would be beneficial for everyone to read. Otherwise it is one hobbist thoughts, opinions and experiences against anothers . That might be why people seem to argue both sides.
Its not a hobbyist's opinion. It is medical science concerning disease transmission between similar species. I don't see anyone arguing that its okay to mix species. We had a few argumentative individuals in the past who wanted to contradict everything that was said and say, "Look, I'm doing it and nothing has happened…". To that argument I simply add, "… yet." And that is what Yvonne was talking about too. Notice those people in those arguments aren't around anymore? When you advocate for the wrong thing and disaster finally comes, what percentage of people will then get on the internet and say, "Hey look world! I was wrong and all of my tortoises died after I spent hundreds or thousands trying to save them from a some mystery illness that just happened for no reason in my pen where I keep several species together."?
Agree, Completely, Tom.
A good article on the subject by an experienced vet:
Wow, Yvonne, the above article about the mixing of turtles/tortoises from various locals is definitive and concise. Reading these works by yourself, Mark and Tom leaves me with little option than to practise extreme care in bringing new tortoises into our habitat even following a prudent quarantine period. After reading the above article, I don't know how one can keep myriad tortoises in such close proximity. Can there be health hazards when, say CDTs from various, yet similar locals be brought together? Is this why we don't release captive individuals to the wild? How are populations affected when they are translocated in mass for habitat protection purposes? I'm thinking about those CDTs that were translocated from the Ft. Irwin area to an area where tanks and such wouldn't be a threat. I'm certainly not yet convinced that I have any idea what optimum habitats consist of. I'll continue to learn.
I meannt to include Will in the above, sorry.
