nathanlevi
Member
Is there a desert tortoise care sheet because I might be getting two desert tortoises.
thanks for the care sheet. why can't they be kept in pairs I heard that that rule is only applied to male desert tortoises not female and maleThey have relatively similar care to Russians-
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
Please keep in mind that if you get both of them, you can’t house them together. They shouldn’t be kept in pairs.
thanks for the care sheet. why can't they be kept in pairs I heard that that rule is only applied to male desert tortoises not female and male
I'm going to disagree with you here: two female desert tortoises can be housed in a properly sized area without undue agression.No tortoises should ever be kept in pairs, especially when there’s a male. With a male and a female, the male will mate the female to death.
Tortoises are completely solitary animals, and only see other tortoises as mates or combatants. Even being able to see another tortoise stresses them, and with only two, there is always a dominant and a subordinate. The subordinate is always stressed because it’s being bullied, and the dominant is always stressed because it can’t get the other out of its territory.
You should never House tortoises in pairs.
I'm going to disagree with you here: two female desert tortoises can be housed in a properly sized area without undue agression.
Thank you, Yvonne. Nancy and I have enjoyed Don's care sheet and found it most useful. We are active members of the CTTC chapter in the Low Desert and meet at the Living Desert.For a care sheet, you can trust the info on https://www.donsdeserttortoises.com/
There is some good info in there, but its hard to follow and there are links to everything instead of explanation.For a care sheet, you can trust the info on https://www.donsdeserttortoises.com/
I have to disagree with you here Orv. Just because they aren't actively trying to kill each other, doesn't mean they aren't stressed, or that living as a pair is okay. And sharing the same burrow doesn't mean they are buddies, it means one is trying to crowd the other out of the territory. No tortoises should be kept in pairs, but DTs are one of the worst species to do this with. Your tortoises would be much better off living alone in their own enclosures.I have never witnessed any sign of aggression, be it for food, hides or territory among our properly housed female CDTs. Our's sleep, by choice, in the same burrow even though there is another available. Just our experience.
Thank you for your consideration and kind words. As usual, I hope for the best for you and yours Orv.Tom, I deeply respect you and your wealth of knowlege on tortoise husbandry. Still, our tortoises have lived together in a seemingly peaceful manner for a long time. For now, we'll have to agree to disagree. There are many learned keepers on both sides of the fulcrum on our tortoise's proper care. I truly desire to be a proper steward of our CDTs. I keep learning on a daily basis. Thank you for your responses.
is it ok to keep female and female together?
I have to disagree with you here Orv. Just because they aren't actively trying to kill each other, doesn't mean they aren't stressed, or that living as a pair is okay. And sharing the same burrow doesn't mean they are buddies, it means one is trying to crowd the other out of the territory. No tortoises should be kept in pairs, but DTs are one of the worst species to do this with. Your tortoises would be much better off living alone in their own enclosures.
I have found this site to be extremely useful for desert tortoise care http://tortoisegroup.org/Is there a desert tortoise care sheet because I might be getting two desert tortoises.
Tom, I deeply respect you and your wealth of knowlege on tortoise husbandry. Still, our tortoises have lived together in a seemingly peaceful manner for a long time. For now, we'll have to agree to disagree. There are many learned keepers on both sides of the fulcrum on our tortoise's proper care. I truly desire to be a proper steward of our CDTs. I keep learning on a daily basis. Thank you for your responses.