New adoption please advise

Redwing

New Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Fountain Florida
We adopted 2 Tortoises a couple months ago. My granddaughter was told they were both 6 month old Russians when she took them out of a bad situation.
After we googled and determined they were not Russians and the size they would actually get. We all decided my farm in Florida was a better home. We have started planting the new farm with cactus, hibiscus, dandelions, mulberry and a few other grasses We have them a 2 plus acre future enclosure with an insulated building just for them.
They are eating well and very friendly.
The large tort is 600 grams and the smaller is 296 grams.
I am very open to any advice also would love to hear critics and tell me honestly about my torts.
I really love them and want them happy and healthy.
I have attached 2 pics of each.

D00A26A4-F283-4319-89C3-DB8FB4455BB3.jpeg B4393F3C-395A-4CDE-96B2-DEDF1ED183BD.jpeg 228B3BD8-FEF9-4BA7-BCD6-741648130470.jpeg DAC6B2AF-3677-4FDC-A5CA-93BF77C8EFE8.jpeg
 

lismar79

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They are absolutely not Russians LOL. You have a sulcata and a leopard and they should not be housed together. Different species do not mix well as they can give each other diseases. Tortoises are also solitary animals and will bully one another this is likely why one is much bigger than the other. I have read some pretty horrible stories on this forum about bullying to know enough that it's in their best interest to separate them. The size can be a factor of their species as well of course sulcats get much bigger. The good news is they both have the same diet and enclosure needs. Both look pretty pyramid which cannot be fixed all together but you can make it much better for future growth by giving them a humid environment or a humid hide box for night time. There is a ton of information on the sulcata and leopard info pages. Especially read up on their calcium needs to make sure there is no MBD factors now or future. I encourage you to read up & these will be wonderful pets for you for a very long time. Kudos to you for coming here to learn to care for these awesome animals.
 

Redwing

New Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2
Location (City and/or State)
Fountain Florida
Thank You I was pretty sure I had a Sulcata and a Leopard but confirmation is appreciated.
I have learned a lot from this forum already.
I do give them calcium bars and they eat them regularly. I do have moss in their hide I keep moist I also mist inside the hide every few days.
For now until spring they are together in a 4x4 tub, I am watching they both get food and no bullying.
I have a large turtle table 8x8 divided for each to have their own space when the weather permits them to be outside. After that we should have the big enclosure finished.
The pyramiding, I expected to hear that and hoping I can get it leveled some as they grow. They were being fed fruits and veggies more suited for tropical torts and not really eating that. They were housed in a 2ft x 2ft container. Not being soaked, not being fed properly.
I guess they are lucky they made it at all.
Thank You
 

lismar79

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Oct 29, 2013
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2,993
Location (City and/or State)
Ohio USA
Bullying is 9 times out of 10 mental not physical. Basically what happens is one tort becomes dominant and the other tries to do as little as possible to be noticed because they are very territorial. If you can separate them at all it would be advised giving them their own outside space when weather permits is great.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
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Jan 9, 2010
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Hello and welcome.

Please read these for the correct care for these guys:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

They really do need to be separated ASAP. As they become healthier in your care, their normal behavior will begin to return, and problems are likely. Best to separate them now, before there is a major problem.

Also, all of the sulcatas and leopards I've ever raised ry to eat the moss. I've tried to use it several times. I would remove it before they eat it.

Hope this helps.
 

Razan

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5 Year Member
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Feb 22, 2015
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378
Location (City and/or State)
Riverside, CA
Congratulations on adopting two tortoises !

Thanks for posting photos of them. Nicely done :)
Best advise is to read Toms threads he posted to you.

Bet you will enjoy watching the sulcata grow. Feed him, feed him, feed him.
Feed them both of course haha, but it is neat to see a tortoise grow so much bigger.
 

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