Adding a new tortoise

[tyguy35]

Is it ok to add a new leopard littl older then my Leo to my leos pen.

 

[coreyc]

What's the size difference? I would quarantine the new one for at least a month before putting them together

 

[tyguy35]

About an inch

 

[wildponey21]

you know if you get a tort from a good breeder I don't see why you would quarantine them

 

[tyguy35]

the breeder is a guy on here. but its from a different family he sold to a while ago. they dont want to sell and im always afraid some random is going to buy on a whim and it ges bad care. but at the same time i dont want mine feeling overwhelmed and neglected

 

[Floof]

I agree with Corey wholeheartedly. Make sure you quarantine before adding the new tortoise to the enclosure. As for the size difference, it doesn't sound like enough to cause a problem... But, my experience with Leopards is pretty limited, so I'll let someone with more experience advise you on that one.

Also, when adding a new tortoise to the enclosure, watch their interactions carefully to be sure there's no bullying issues. If there are, you need to be ready to separate.

you know if you get a tort from a good breeder I don't see why you would quarantine them

Not even the best breeders are immune to disease in their collections. No matter how great the breeder is, you can't know that the animal coming in doesn't have some parasite, illness, or other issue that was overlooked and could be passed on to your tortoise. Quarantine goes both ways, too--you don't want the new tortoise to catch anything from your current tortoise, especially while you're still getting to know it (aka, don't know its normal behavior, so can't gauge "sick" behavior) and it's in that stressful period right after a big move where it's more susceptible to disease.

Quarantine, at best, is a "just in case" practice. Murphy loves to strike when people slip up, and it will be that one time you assume "Oh, he came from a good breeder, I don't need to quarantine," that the new animal turns out to be carrying some deadly parasite or illness that it then passes on to your established tortoise. No one wants that... Hence why we advise quarantining new animals.

 

[tyguy35]

lol oh geez now im afraid to get another lol

 

[evlinLoutries]

Its fine for me..

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Quarantine should be for 4 to 6 months, then it becomes a size thing. Too big and he can hurt the smaller one...

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Also, do you know for certain the gender of both tortoises?

If male/male, it's usually a battle looking for a time to happen.

Female/female, rarely any serious problems.

If 1 male/1 female, eventually a very stressed-out female...otoh, 1 male/3 or more females is perfect.

 

[tyguy35]

I was wrong my tort is older by a few days lol. There's is bigger tho by a half inch. Also they are both 6 months so gender is a who knows lol

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

I was wrong my tort is older by a few days lol. There's is bigger tho by a half inch. Also they are both 6 months so gender is a who knows lol

I would just be prepared to have a second set up just in case they dont get along or one gets stresed. i just got a second leo... double the fun.

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

I was wrong my tort is older by a few days lol. There's is bigger tho by a half inch. Also they are both 6 months so gender is a who knows lol

Won't be an issue for at least a few years, then...but later, be prepared to make other accomodations unless both turn out to be females (at which point, you might consider getting a similarly sized male...and eventually you'll likely hear the SLOW pitter-patter of tiny tortoise-toes! )