Are Tortoise Loners?

[MistyChee']

I just wanted to get everyone's opinion on this topic. Do your tortoise prefer "friends" or do you think they are quite happy alone with just your company?

I have a 2 year old Sulcata and I am keeping my neighbors 1 year old Sulcata for two weeks while she is out if town. They seem to be enjoying each others company and following each other around. Maybe it's just me, but they seem happy.

 

[StudentoftheReptile]

Most tortoise species are solitary in nature, and with the exception of the purposes for breeding (usually a specific time of the year), they do not seek out the company of other tortoises.

Most "social" behavior that people witness in a captive environment is at best, mere tolerance, and at worst, disputes over territory or mates. It is why it is generally not suggested to put tortoises in pairs. One tortoise will always be the dominant/alpha, while the other will the subordinant. The latter will be stressed.

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The "following around" is likely one trying to chase the other. You didn't specify who was who, but if I had to guess, I bet your larger 2 yr old is the one doing the chasing, er "following."

I'm sure the 1 yr old and its owner would be much happier if you kept them separate.

 

[wellington]

They are a solitary animal. Be very careful with the two together. They are either trying to mate or one may be trying to intimidate the other.

 

[NudistApple]

They are definitely loners, Student explained things beautifully. Some species of tortoises are more tolerant of each other than others, but Sulcatas are not known for being so.

 

[MistyChee']

Oh wow! Ok, I honestly thought they were actually enjoying each other. I guess that's the human in me thinking they were going to be friends. The good thing is we are next door neighbors and I can just put theirs back in her original home. My neighbor thought like I did that they would enjoy time together. Oh well, back she goes.

 

[NudistApple]

It's okay, everyone anthropomorphizes sometimes!

 

[Tom]

There are two species that I know of that seem to "like" the company of others and one is questionable. Pancakes live in communal groups naturally in the wild. This might be a function of habitat, but it is common to find them in groups. The other one is redfoots. They seem to mix and do well in groups in captivity. I still have not found any references of them hanging out in groups in the wild. It seems like given the choice, even they will go their own way, but they don't seem to show the hostility of some other species so readily.

Sulcatas are definitely more solitary. They do okay in larger groups sometimes, but pairs are almost alway problematic. In the wild, sulcatas are very territorial and aggressive.

 

[Snowqueen75]

My two little Russian definatly do NOT like the company of each other and have separated them! Even in the garden the do not interact together and Rosie the smaller tort will go for Jim and try to nip so we put one on one side of the garden and other opposite side the just ignore each other!! Actually the ignore me tooo lol

 

[Tom]

There are always exceptions, but in my experience Russians and sulcatas are generally the worst as far as interspecies aggression goes. I have seen some super aggressive male CDTs, Greeks, marginateds, and hermanni too. The breeder that I get my Gpp from told me of a few adult male Gpp that he'd had that were very aggressive too, but most leopards usually aren't too bad. The two most aggressive individual tortoises that I have ever seen were a male CDT and a male Russian. I have been told all about a male sulcata who literally killed thee other males, but I did not see him in action.

 

[Jacqui]

One reason the two may have seemed to be on friendly terms is because they are both young. Aggression really starts to be a problem once sexual maturity is reached.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

There are two species that I know of that seem to "like" the company of others and one is questionable. Pancakes live in communal groups naturally in the wild. This might be a function of habitat, but it is common to find them in groups. The other one is redfoots. They seem to mix and do well in groups in captivity. I still have not found any references of them hanging out in groups in the wild. It seems like given the choice, even they will go their own way, but they don't seem to show the hostility of some other species so readily.

Sulcatas are definitely more solitary. They do okay in larger groups sometimes, but pairs are almost alway problematic. In the wild, sulcatas are very territorial and aggressive.

Redfoots do seem to like each other's company sometimes. Interesting about pancakes. Manouria emys also appear to be somewhat social - probably more so than either redfoots or pancakes, from what I've read:

"Manouria emys phayeri?"

Giant Galapagos and Aldabrans live in big colonies, but I don't know if that's due to social attraction, or just aggregation around a common food source. Other than these species, though, every other species of tortoise seems to prefer being alone, except for when they mate, and then it's back to solitaire again.

I let my male and female steppe tortoises come into supervised contact with each other every once in a while, to simulate the random encounters they would have in the wild. Other than that, though, they each have their own separate enclosures, and are completely on their own the rest of the time.

 

[mctlong]

This thread made me think of this:

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

This thread made me think of this:

Owen and Mzee are an interesting case. I'm inclined to think that the young hippo (Owen) is the social one, while the Aldabran tortoise (Mzee) merely didn't mind the attention. But who knows? As I said above, maybe Aldabrans like company, too.

 

[Nixxy]

One reason the two may have seemed to be on friendly terms is because they are both young. Aggression really starts to be a problem once sexual maturity is reached.

Very, very true.

I have read many a story of people having two torts together, that did absolutely fine till they matured, and instantly started butting heads.

They are solitary by nature, and actually do prefer their space.

They are much better, honestly, with human interaction, then other tortoise interaction.


One thing to note, a pair is rarely a good thing. Almost never. But a trio can work. Also, if you want to see a herd of Torts, check out ALDABRAMAN's thread. A herd/pack/large group is also quite different than a duo. It may be entirely due to being functionally effective, and have nothing to do with socializing.

I've heard of Pancakes being housed successfully, that's about it.