Why does it seem to be ok to keep different species of turtles together but not tortoises? Don’t the same arguments apply?
dolfanjack said:Why does it seem to be ok to keep different species of turtles together but not tortoises? Don’t the same arguments apply?
dolfanjack said:Why does it seem to be ok to keep different species of turtles together but not tortoises? Don’t the same arguments apply?
terryo said:OK...say you get a cb Redfoot (or a humidity loving, forest type of tortoise) and a cb Box Turtle, (also a humidity loving forest turtle). They both are captive bread, they both are the same age...say 1 month...they both love and need humidity, hide under leaf litter most of the day, need low light and warm temp. They are both healthy. Why can't they be raised together until they reach a certain age, or until one is a lot bigger than the other? In the Summer when it's warm out, why can't they co-exist together, even as adults, if they have a large enough area, and they get along?
I also know people who keep water turtles in the same yard with their boxies.
GBtortoises said:I have to agree with both Yvonne and Jacqui's reasoning. I also look at it from the viewpoint of different species having different environmental needs and more specifically in some cases, different micro-climates. While two species may have similar requirements, that doesn't necessarily mean that they have the same requirements. Trying to keep one species within the requirements of another species means that you're comprising one or both of their environmental needs.
There are over 20 species of tortoises found on the African continent. Why aren't all of the species found throughout the entire continent? Most probably because they have different environmental requirements that can't be met throughout the entire continent.
emysemys said:So can't anyone speak to the original question? Why is it ok to mix different species of water turtle?
Terry Allan Hall said:emysemys said:So can't anyone speak to the original question? Why is it ok to mix different species of water turtle?
Interesting question...it occurs to me that virtrually every zoo I've ever visited does this, though, and not just species from the same continent.
Don't forget that Zoos also have full time professional staffers and vets on hand to try and prevent and or deal with all of the problems associated from mixing species. Preventative and regular worming and fecal checks, injury treatment, loads of hospital quarters off exhibit, etc...Jacqui said:Terry Allan Hall said:emysemys said:So can't anyone speak to the original question? Why is it ok to mix different species of water turtle?
Interesting question...it occurs to me that virtrually every zoo I've ever visited does this, though, and not just species from the same continent.
The same reasons apply to equally to mixed tortoise enclosures, mixed turtles enclosure, and mixed with both turtles and tortoises together.
Zoos have a limited amount of space to deal with and visitors/sponsors want as much bang for the inch as they can get. An enclosure with with the correct amount of room per animal is kinda bare isn't it? Add to it animals need and like to hide, which makes more empty, wasted looking space. People want to see animals, not empty enclosures. The zoo is trying to use all the space it can, to give as much variety and color as they can, and to create mini views of what the real scene would look like in the wild.
Zoos are in away like Vets, pet stores, and breeders in our mind. Places that SHOULD know what the animals need and then should lead us by example to the same correct care. Unfortunately, zoos also let us down. They are after all, also a business and money talks loudest of all.