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I have a captive bred hatchling Redfooted Tortoise. I was considering getting a captive bred hatchling Sri Lanka Star Tortoise. Is it at all possible to house them together? I have seen several replies say nay but from what I’ve seen their temperature and humidity setup is very similar. I keep my enclosure at a temperature gradient of 75-85 degrees, with a basking spot of 90-100 degrees. My humidity ranges from 65-80 percent. Depending on misting. (I mist very thoroughly and soak). I have a heat lamp for basking, and UVB lamp, and a ceramic heater bulb for night time use so the temperature doesn’t drop below 75 degrees. I’ve also seen that their diet is fairly similar as well. Both would be captive bred hatchlings around the same size, neither are territorial species, neither have diseases (captive bred), and both would be male (no risk for hybridization). So what’s the deal?
 

wellington

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If you do a search you will find hundreds of threads asking the same thing with different species. The answer is the same No. You will find all the different reasons why it should never be done and what the big deal is. Your looking for that one person that will say yes. Who do you think will be right? That one person or all the others telling you no it shouldnt be done? Even if it was okay, it sure wouldn't be okay in a small indoor cage of any size doesnt match the wild area. Captive or not.
 
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Well could you please clarify why? Instead of just saying no. Because if not, then these forums are useless. I’m not saying I would disagree with you, but I would like to be educated and have an informative reply. Thank you.
 

G-stars

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One is from South America the other from Sri Lanka. They were meant to never ever meet in the wild. Ultimately your going to do what you want to do but the ones who are going to pay the price are your tortoises.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Well could you please clarify why? Instead of just saying no. Because if not, then these forums are useless. I’m not saying I would disagree with you, but I would like to be educated and have an informative reply. Thank you.
There are many reasons that you can easily find from older posts on this forum about mixing species.
Aside from the issues of pathogens, etc. There might also be other issues you are not considering like the fact that tortoises don't like company. Not even their own kind.
Now. You can certainly have many tortoises. And many species of tortoise. If that's what youd like. But never a pair. Especially a pair of males. And never mix species.
Please just take this for what it is. Good advice.
 

wellington

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Well could you please clarify why? Instead of just saying no. Because if not, then these forums are useless. I’m not saying I would disagree with you, but I would like to be educated and have an informative reply. Thank you.
Some have already been posted by other members. Those listed are some of the main reasons. Diseases, pathogens. They are from different areas and would never come across what the other would. Thry may be cb but that doesnt mean their parents were or that they aren't around others of their own wc kind. There is only reasons not to do it. Not one good reason too do it.
 
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