Any hope for two male sulcatas?

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Our Tyrion is now 4 years old and about 45 lbs. A friend of a friend recently approached us and asked if we would be interested in providing a home for their 20-something-year-old male who is about 65 lbs (no idea why our Tyrion is growing so much faster). We had a test run today -- putting them in the same enclosure to see how they get along. The friend's tortoise pretty much ignores Tyrion, but Tyrion gets right up in his face, nips and tries to bulldoze his new "friend." We went inside for about 10 minutes and came out again to find Tyrion on his back. Not sure what happened there, but not good. So is there a way to acclimate them to each other? Will they get used to each other, or should we expect this to continue. I had heard male sulcatas would only fight if there was a female involved. Photo of the two of them below. Our Tyrion is the smaller tortoise on the right. Suggestions welcome as we would love to be able to provide a home for this other guy!



74479736_10114181720185940_2650598174342774784_n.jpg
 

method89

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We all want to keep our tortoises together, yet it is simply not to be. They don't like each other and don't want to be around each other for too long. Imagine putting 2 male lions together in a contained area, not going to go well.
 

Maro2Bear

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There are so many threads on here regarding the CONS of not keeping two male sulcatas together I’m surprised you would even risk it. You need to separate ASAP or something bad is going to happen. Like oil & water, two large male Sully's won’t mix.

Time to separate & build a separate enclosure or rehome.

Good luck
 

Tom

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Our Tyrion is now 4 years old and about 45 lbs. A friend of a friend recently approached us and asked if we would be interested in providing a home for their 20-something-year-old male who is about 65 lbs (no idea why our Tyrion is growing so much faster). We had a test run today -- putting them in the same enclosure to see how they get along. The friend's tortoise pretty much ignores Tyrion, but Tyrion gets right up in his face, nips and tries to bulldoze his new "friend." We went inside for about 10 minutes and came out again to find Tyrion on his back. Not sure what happened there, but not good. So is there a way to acclimate them to each other? Will they get used to each other, or should we expect this to continue. I had heard male sulcatas would only fight if there was a female involved. Photo of the two of them below. Our Tyrion is the smaller tortoise on the right. Suggestions welcome as we would love to be able to provide a home for this other guy!

There is no way to acclimate them or train them to get along. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Two adult males of this species is about worse case scenario.
 
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There is no way to acclimate them or train them to get along. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Two adult males of this species is about worse case scenario.

Appreciate the feedback. Our vet had a similar opinion when we took the new tortoise in for a first check-up this morning. Deciding whether we can accommodate two or whether we must return the new fellow to prior owners (who are desperate to find a home for him as they are moving out of the country). He is such a sweet chill old guy. Unfortunately our Tyrion is the bully ☹️.
 

Tom

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Appreciate the feedback. Our vet had a similar opinion when we took the new tortoise in for a first check-up this morning. Deciding whether we can accommodate two or whether we must return the new fellow to prior owners (who are desperate to find a home for him as they are moving out of the country). He is such a sweet chill old guy. Unfortunately our Tyrion is the bully ☹️.
Its not that difficult to keep two as long as the wall that separates them cannot be knocked down or climbed. I'll leave this thread here just as an idea to show you one way to do it. This night box is for two male tortoises that would try to kill each other if they ever got together. Made this way, I only have to heat and maintain one box for the two separate enclosures.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/
 

TammyJ

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I really hope you can find a way to keep them both without them encountering each other. Quite apart from the obvious territorial dominance by Tyrion, you are exposing him to any possible communicable disease the other old fellow may be carrying. They are both wonderful.
 

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