Dominant behavior?

[KelvinLean]

I have two Greek tortoises both 10 years old. The place we bought them said they were sterilized and male and female but I believe they are both females. I can’t tell if the way they act with each other is dangerous or not. They have a fairly large outdoor enclosure and they sleep in opposite corners of it, but in the morning they will both go out and find one another. The larger of the two often climbs on top of the smaller one but and I sometimes see them nipping at each others feet but it doesn’t look agressive, more like curiosity. When I separate them I have seen both run to find each other again and sometimes they will sit in facing each other for minutes just looking at each other. In ten years I’ve never seen them injure each other but I have noticed that the smaller one seems less happy, she moves around less and is more shy. I used to leave them alone for most of the time but I’m trying to get more invested again and I plan on making them a new enclosure which should be better for them but I’m not sure if they need to be separated or not. When we bought them we were led to believe that they are happier with a companion but that may have just been a sales tactic, I’m not sure. If anyone can offer any help I would appreciate it.

 

[TammyJ]

I can one hundred percent assure you that you need to separate them. Each one is uncomfortable and at risk and needs to be alone.
Put them as far away from each other as possible. Thank you!

 

[Tom]

I have two Greek tortoises both 10 years old. The place we bought them said they were sterilized and male and female but I believe they are both females. I can’t tell if the way they act with each other is dangerous or not. They have a fairly large outdoor enclosure and they sleep in opposite corners of it, but in the morning they will both go out and find one another. The larger of the two often climbs on top of the smaller one but and I sometimes see them nipping at each others feet but it doesn’t look agressive, more like curiosity. When I separate them I have seen both run to find each other again and sometimes they will sit in facing each other for minutes just looking at each other. In ten years I’ve never seen them injure each other but I have noticed that the smaller one seems less happy, she moves around less and is more shy. I used to leave them alone for most of the time but I’m trying to get more invested again and I plan on making them a new enclosure which should be better for them but I’m not sure if they need to be separated or not. When we bought them we were led to believe that they are happier with a companion but that may have just been a sales tactic, I’m not sure. If anyone can offer any help I would appreciate it.

Funny how thread subjects seem to run together, with us seeing several similar ones all at the same time. To save some typing, please read this other thread. You have the same problem, and the sexes don't matter:

Gend

Hi, i have two tortoises - since hatchling i was told (as best as they could tell so young) that the larger one (left in the pucture) was a boy and the smaller one a girl. They live together happily, and have done so for about 14 years. But, I'm beginning to think it's incorrect. The small one...

tortoiseforum.org

Click the link at the bottom too for more helpful info.

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

100% separate them asap

 

[RandyTortoise]

I have two Greek tortoises both 10 years old. The place we bought them said they were sterilized and male and female but I believe they are both females. I can’t tell if the way they act with each other is dangerous or not. They have a fairly large outdoor enclosure and they sleep in opposite corners of it, but in the morning they will both go out and find one another. The larger of the two often climbs on top of the smaller one but and I sometimes see them nipping at each others feet but it doesn’t look agressive, more like curiosity. When I separate them I have seen both run to find each other again and sometimes they will sit in facing each other for minutes just looking at each other. In ten years I’ve never seen them injure each other but I have noticed that the smaller one seems less happy, she moves around less and is more shy. I used to leave them alone for most of the time but I’m trying to get more invested again and I plan on making them a new enclosure which should be better for them but I’m not sure if they need to be separated or not. When we bought them we were led to believe that they are happier with a companion but that may have just been a sales tactic, I’m not sure. If anyone can offer any help I would appreciate it.

Sterilized? Like “fixed” like a dog or cat? I highly doubt it. I have never heard of this.
It is possible they you have a male and female and you are seeing breeding behavior. Or you have two males and they are challenging in breeding season? Just a thought.

 

[KelvinLean]

Funny how thread subjects seem to run together, with us seeing several similar ones all at the same time. To save some typing, please read this other thread. You have the same problem, and the sexes don't matter:

Gend

Hi, i have two tortoises - since hatchling i was told (as best as they could tell so young) that the larger one (left in the pucture) was a boy and the smaller one a girl. They live together happily, and have done so for about 14 years. But, I'm beginning to think it's incorrect. The small one...

tortoiseforum.org

Click the link at the bottom too for more helpful info.

Well to add to my question something which I haven’t seen the answer to online, if I were to separate them would there be a problem with the enclosures being next to each other, as in would one smell the other or hear the other etc and live in fear for the rest of its life of it’s return? I have enough space to separate them with each having a sizable enclosure but it would be challenging to build these enclosures far away from each other. So I may have to give one away if this is the case

 

[Tom]

Well to add to my question something which I haven’t seen the answer to online, if I were to separate them would there be a problem with the enclosures being next to each other, as in would one smell the other or hear the other etc and live in fear for the rest of its life of it’s return? I have enough space to separate them with each having a sizable enclosure but it would be challenging to build these enclosures far away from each other. So I may have to give one away if this is the case

The answer is maybe. I've seen evidence that they still know the other one is on the other side of the fence, and other times, a divider down the middle of large enclosure solves the problem. If you can make a walk way between the two enclosures, that is better. If all you can do is divide it down the middle with a wall, that will be good enough. Certainly better than sharing the same space.

 

[KelvinLean]

The answer is maybe. I've seen evidence that they still know the other one is on the other side of the fence, and other times, a divider down the middle of large enclosure solves the problem. If you can make a walk way between the two enclosures, that is better. If all you can do is divide it down the middle with a wall, that will be good enough. Certainly better than sharing the same space.

I’ve separated them for now in their current enclosure with a wall so I’ll see how things go. If necessary I can probably make some space between them. Thanks for the advice.