Please help (hiding/sleeping all the time)

Linzi

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Hi,
I have 2 new horsefield tortoise that I got just 3 days ago. At first the female was quite active with the male being a bit more shy, now my female has been hiding away sleeping since yesterday morning, iv had her out to bathe and place under light but then she goes back, they both seam to be doing this now. I only bought the 2 as the pet shop said theyd always been together. Are they just taking time to adjust or are they unhappy.
 

jsheffield

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Tortoises don't like, and take time to adjust to, a new environment.

Make sure to feed and soak them and have temps and humidity in the optimal range and they'll be fine once they get used to their new home.

Jamie
 

Linzi

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Tortoises don't like, and take time to adjust to, a new environment.

Make sure to feed and soak them and have temps and humidity in the optimal range and they'll be fine once they get used to their new home.

Jamie
Thank you,
They don't seam to be eating so i'm soaking regulary
 

Linzi

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I'll go get some, They're in a 2@*4ft open table with steralised top soil. I've just fetched my girl outside and she's women up, having a good wonder. I've been trying them with kale, and various leaf and flower from the tortoise food app.
 

Tom

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Linzi

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Congratulations on the new tortoises! :)

Tortoises should never live in pairs. Horsfield tortoises are probably the worst for this. They each need their own enclosure both indoors and out.

2x4 is okay for little babies, but they will each need 4x8', or more, as adults.

Here is the current care info:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
Thank you, I know now the pet shop has just done anything for a quick sale, they told me theyd always been together and that it was ok to keep a male and female together, as did a lot of sources online
 

Tom

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Thank you, I know now the pet shop has just done anything for a quick sale, they told me theyd always been together and that it was ok to keep a male and female together, as did a lot of sources online
Its unfortunate. There is a lot of bad info like this circulating around out in the world. In most species, an adult male and female housed together would mean constant harassment and eventual death for the female. Sulcatas for example. In Russians, sometimes the bigger female is the aggressor. It can really go either way but one or both is going to suffer. They can sometimes be kept in groups with one large dominant male in large outdoor enclosures with lots of hiding areas and sight barriers, but never as pairs. Even groups don't work sometimes and they have to be separated.
 

Linzi

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Its unfortunate. There is a lot of bad info like this circulating around out in the world. In most species, an adult male and female housed together would mean constant harassment and eventual death for the female. Sulcatas for example. In Russians, sometimes the bigger female is the aggressor. It can really go either way but one or both is going to suffer. They can sometimes be kept in groups with one large dominant male in large outdoor enclosures with lots of hiding areas and sight barriers, but never as pairs. Even groups don't work sometimes and they have to be separated.
See I was told theyd always been together but the female is smaller so makes me think that can't be true, she must younger
 

TechnoCheese

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See I was told theyd always been together but the female is smaller so makes me think that can't be true, she must younger

When kept in pairs, one tortoise is very often smaller because it is being dominated by the other. Here’s an example with Sulcatas.IMG_2950.jpg
 

TechnoCheese

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Oh wow, Are these the same age? Have you had any problems with keeping them together?

I believe they’re the same age, but they’re not mine. I believe they’ve since been separated. The larger one was the dominant of the two, and bullied the smaller one so that it received less resources, and grew much slower. That is almost always what happens with pairs. There is always a dominant and a subordinate, and in captivity, they can’t escape from each other.
 

Linzi

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I believe they’re the same age, but they’re not mine. I believe they’ve since been separated. The larger one was the dominant of the two, and bullied the smaller one so that it received less resources, and grew much slower. That is almost always what happens with pairs. There is always a dominant and a subordinate, and in captivity, they can’t escape from each other.
 

Tom

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See I was told theyd always been together but the female is smaller so makes me think that can't be true, she must younger
Russians can be difficult to sex until they get closer to maturity. Its possible that you don't have a male and female.

Either way the size difference is the norm in pairs, if they don't outright attack each other. It is very stressful for them to live that way, although some of them do survive it. Here is what can happen: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/
 

Linzi

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Russians can be difficult to sex until they get closer to maturity. Its possible that you don't have a male and female.

Either way the size difference is the norm in pairs, if they don't outright attack each other. It is very stressful for them to live that way, although some of them do survive it. Here is what can happen: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/bad-day-for-baby.114328/
I'll take a look at that, thanks. They're 5/6 and have very different tails, 1 shorter with a * shape and the other is alot longer curled to side with a slit
 

Sleppo

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Sorry you received bad information on keeping them in pairs. I did too and had to put a lot of unexpected money into setting up a second enclosure. It's best that they don't know that each other exists, they are very territorial no matter what the sex. Please do some research on this forum and good luck with getting everything worked out. If you have any questions just ask, everyone here is very knowledgeable and friendly.
 

Cathie G

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Thank you, I know now the pet shop has just done anything for a quick sale, they told me theyd always been together and that it was ok to keep a male and female together, as did a lot of sources online
Welcome to the TFO. You came to the right place for help. I just want to say though, that employees of a pet shop don't always have the correct information available to them. I was given the opportunity recently to teach a pet shop employee how to tell a male from a female Russian. I also can drive less then a mile now for supplies that I need now and not wait. So even though I really don't like the pet trade I'm glad for pet shops. You could possibly return one if you don't think you can do 2. It all depends on what you think you would be able to do well.
 

Linzi

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Welcome to the TFO. You came to the right place for help. I just want to say though, that employees of a pet shop don't always have the correct information available to them. I was given the opportunity recently to teach a pet shop employee how to tell a male from a female Russian. I also can drive less then a mile now for supplies that I need now and not wait. So even though I really don't like the pet trade I'm glad for pet shops. You could possibly return one if you don't think you can do 2. It all depends on what you think you would be able to do well.
Thanks, I feel awful at the thought of sending 1 back but I don't have the extra money or space for another enclosure. Kicking myself now
 

Cathie G

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Thanks, I feel awful at the thought of sending 1 back but I don't have the extra money or space for another enclosure. Kicking myself now
You can't kick yourself. It's only human to think a tortoise needs another tortoise. I've had my Russian for 12 years and even though I know for sure that pairs don't work, I still worry that he's lonely. I just spend a little bit of extra time and money on him. Here in the US you can change your mind. I don't know the return policies in the UK. Best wishes for a good outcome. Maybe a better home for one of your tortoises.
 
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