Why not to keep 2 tortoises together - a lesson learned the hard way

Vita

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A rubbermaid bin may be a good temporary solution. The biggest you can find. :) Slightly cramped in a 2ft x 4ft bin is still better than being bullied and bitten....
Tonight my husband returns home for some days and tomorrow we will put the female in her new home. The vivarium is ready (my father built it - not perfect but I love it :) ), but I can't take it home because my car is always full with may 3 children and the pushchair. So my husband will take it home into his van.
 

biochemnerd808

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Tonight my husband returns home for some days and tomorrow we will put the female in her new home. The vivarium is ready (my father built it - not perfect but I love it :) ), but I can't take it home because my car is always full with may 3 children and the pushchair. So my husband will take it home into his van.

Wonderful! your female will be so much happier by herself in her own space. :)
 

Sandy Martinez

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Great info to us inexperienced tort lovers -- its natural to think about getting a 2nd tort, or a "friend" for your first. Great educational tool! Thanks!
 
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Good to know. My guy already seems to be a trouble maker so I'm just going to be his friend. Some animals are just not social like we humans see social, and I guess tortoises are on of them.
 

pip

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Oh wow. I'm glad I read this! I was thinking of getting 2 Russian tortoises, but I think I'll just stick to one now.
 

Crzt4torts

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If only I had read this 11 years ago!!
I've had a male/female pair house together for 11 years, basically without incident. I assume both were wild caught. Anastasia, my female was very young - smaller to start than the 5 inch male. She is now 7 inches, the male has not grown at all in length. ( he has increased a bit in weight).
This year she hit maturity (I assume), as she has begun to lay eggs. I attempted incubation with her first clutches from July 2015 without success. More research, changed some parameters, and I have her recent 2 clutches (total of 3 eggs) currently in an incubator.
I also have my original pair housed separately, as I observed excessive mating this month. I have another setup ready for babies if any of the eggs hatch.
Naively thinking all could live together without a problem, I am now worried. While I have indoor space for 3 indoor environments, and lots of outdoor space - I am in an area that is not conducive to outdoor living most of the year. (zone 7 climate, summers humid with frequent thunderstorms, high clay content of soil so drainage is not the best) I currently take them out daily during summer but usually just briefly.
I understand that even separated now from Timo, my male, that Anastasia can continue to lay fertile eggs for years. I cannot imagine NOT attempting incubation of potentially fertile eggs, but do not know what I will do if I end up with lots of hatchlings.
I sense a tortoise induced move to a better climate....
 

PS95

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I have housed my two Russians together indoors for almost 10 years, with no problems. Both are females.
 

PS95

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I connected two tortoise houses end to end, creating an enclosure with 6 square feet of space, including two hide spaces on opposite sides so they could avoid each other. Interestingly, at night they usually shelter on the same side. I've seen some minor dominance displays and bumping, but nothing on-going or serious, certainly no combat injuries at all. I think the key is having two females.
 

PS95

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Correction: The they have 6 ft x 2 ft = 12 sq ft of space.
 

gamera154

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i know my gamera was bullied by the female at the pet store i never saw it happening but icould tell he was allways sleeping or moving sliggish and she was allways active and now that i got to know him he is not sluggish at all he is all ways awake and alert and she had control over every thing as she allways ate first
 

DutchieAmanda

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I connected two tortoise houses end to end, creating an enclosure with 6 square feet of space, including two hide spaces on opposite sides so they could avoid each other. Interestingly, at night they usually shelter on the same side. I've seen some minor dominance displays and bumping, but nothing on-going or serious, certainly no combat injuries at all. I think the key is having two females.

The sleeping together could also be a sign of bullying. I'm no expert but @Tom knows a lot more about tortoise behaviour.

Also I don't think newspaper is a very good substrate. They cannot dig into it and there's the risk of them eating the paper (and ink).

Your torts look cute though!
 

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