Ever had a tortoise "play-date"?

[smarch]

Now to start off, yes I know tortoises are loners for the most part and you shouldn't house them together. I have a Russian tortoise and my cousin ended up getting one because of mine (never agree to tortoise sit unless you are ok with growing attatched ) And they've really brought the 2 of us closer together. Often Holidays and gatherings are at one or the others house, so I always invite her tort over and she always invites mine. We live like a half hour apart so its no big deal. They're both male Russian torts (probably both mature) and since they're only together short chunks of time very seldom they've never fought or seemed stressed, although the first time franklin was like what the heck is this!? goodnight! lol. They've had thanksgiving together and had a romaine dandelion feast then even napped together after! Christmas was too cold this year, and they had Easter together. They mostly just go about their own thing, do you think this is just because it happens so seldom?
Do any of you have a friend who also keep a tort and have done anything like this? We tortoise sit for each other, but when we do that they have their own enclosure since its not as short a period. It's sounds silly I know, but they're just part of the family to us, kind of like someone brining their dog for holiday. I also think the one traveling likes a change of scenery enclosure for a little while. Both are medically checked up on as well so we don't worry about one getting the other sick.

 

[wellington]

I know it all sounds good, but they most likely are stressed and this is the reason for them not really being themselves and going after each other. Unfortunately, they are not like dogs, and they don't really enjoy the being out of sorts situations. Like when a tort goes too it's new home, they usually don't eat, wonder or do much for a while, until they become accustomed to their new home. In my opinion, it's not the best situation for the torts.

 

[StarSapphire22]

Just because they are "medically checked up on" doesn't mean it's safe. With yours, there is less of a risk, since both we originally in your collection. However, if your tort and my tort got together for a playdate, even if both are vetted and appearing healthy, they could have been exposed to different pathogens depending on if they are CB or WC, where they come from, what species they are, who their breeder was, etc. This is why we recommend quarantining new additions for a few months before introducing them to an existing bale. Even if my tort is immune to something, he could be a carrier for something yours ISNT immune to, and that could be disastrous. Not to mention the possibility for stress, aggression, and bullying which can be hard to spot. Your tortoise shutting down upon seeing the other was likely a sign of submission.

I don't recommend this at all. If you both want to bring your torts to Christmas, etc. that's fine, but I wouldn't let them "play" together. Keep them separate.

 

[smarch]

Just because they are "medically checked up on" doesn't mean it's safe. With yours, there is less of a risk, since both we originally in your collection. However, if your tort and my tort got together for a playdate, even if both are vetted and appearing healthy, they could have been exposed to different pathogens depending on if they are CB or WC, where they come from, what species they are, who their breeder was, etc. This is why we recommend quarantining new additions for a few months before introducing them to an existing bale. Even if my tort is immune to something, he could be a carrier for something yours ISNT immune to, and that could be disastrous. Not to mention the possibility for stress, aggression, and bullying which can be hard to spot. Your tortoise shutting down upon seeing the other was likely a sign of submission.

I don't recommend this at all. If you both want to bring your torts to Christmas, etc. that's fine, but I wouldn't let them "play" together. Keep them separate.

well they are both Russians, which is why it seemed more ok to me, since I know why housing different species is bad from the different care as well as carrying different illnesses. So I never thought it was a huge problem since they're the same species, but yeah i'm understanding that some now. I was origionally going to say that they're both WC so they were exposed to the same things... but i'm realizing that was a stupid thought, who knows what the heck they were exposed to and where they even came from compared to each other!
My tortoise only "shut down" the first time, its tricky because they both seem to actually get along well now, pretty much do their own thing and happen to run into each other now and then. They only really directly associated when it was time for food and then went to bed and took a nap together. So I mean for now at least the few times its happened they really do get along fine. I know how that can change though, since it usually takes a while for torts living together to show signs.
I think it'll still be hard for me to not do it because of the getting along and cuteness of them together (yeah I sometimes have those moments where I think of tortoises as the dog they're not...). but at the same time the pathogens could cause a problem at any time down the line which is a pretty good reason not to risk it.

 

[StarSapphire22]

I've found that pretty much any time you think torts are getting along, they aren't. Hanging out all the time together isn't because they're besties, but trying to claim the same hide or chase the other out of a territory, etc. In your case, with both being in a new environment, they might even be too stressed to care about the other tort (why Petco and Petsmart can house 5 torts in a 20 gallon tank). I just don't think it's a good idea.

 

[smarch]

I've found that pretty much any time you think torts are getting along, they aren't. Hanging out all the time together isn't because they're besties, but trying to claim the same hide or chase the other out of a territory, etc. In your case, with both being in a new environment, they might even be too stressed to care about the other tort (why Petco and Petsmart can house 5 torts in a 20 gallon tank). I just don't think it's a good idea.

The weird part was they weren't hanging out all the time, they pretty much didn't even notice each other, the only time together was in the hide, which yeah I suppose I didn't see them go in so maybe aggression happened there who knows. But I get what you mean. Franklin doesn't get all that stressed out about switching areas, he has his home, his outside enclosure (only under supervision, and its by far the biggest) and his "mobile home" which is a plastic container we use for like trips to the vet, trips like these mentioned, and also for "watching TV" some nights. All 3 designated as tortoise safe areas. those 3 areas are all familiar to him, and then theres the fence outside we move around so he can graze, mostly I put it down by our lake so when I swim he's close and can graze and run around, but he doesn't really like that one, but that's probably because he cant figure out why he cant fit through the fence.
But from not on I'll try to just keep them in their own designated containers when together so they're safe.