Female Russian behavior

[Jessnaoter]

Hi I have a one female Russian tortoise and a male Russian tortoise living together in a tank.
Neither one of the tortoises have shown aggression to each other they have both been very nice to each other no head banging no ramming of their shell no hissing no biting.
The only thing here recently is my female Russian tortoise will mount my male Russian tortoise I don’t know what kind of behavior that is but it’s new she is 5 inches big my male Russian tortoise is 6 inches big. And they both have their own hides but she will get into his hide and turn herself around where her head is sticking out and she will keep her neck out long and even the slightest sound she will dart out of the log to see what’s going on. When the log isn’t in there like I need to clean it or something she will sit by the mail Russian tortoise won’t bother him or anything but she has to be really near him and she will lay her head on his shell. And he will also do the same he does not mind her he shows no aggression to her the they have their own eating area and bowls soaking area. I’m just wondering if anybody could help me figure out what is going on with them because a lot of people say that keeping two Russian tortoises together makes them aggressive but these two are the sweetest tortoises I’ve ever seen.

 

[wellington]

A tank is no where near big enough for one russuan let alone two. Please get each in a proper sized enclosure asap! Each needs it's own 4x8 foot enclosure. They are showing aggression with all that you are saying they are doing. The poor things are under stress from being together and such a small home.
We have seen it too many times on here, 2 tortoises together. Many threads in why they shouldnt be housed together as a pair and Russians are one of the top ones that shouldn't be. That and the small home need to be fixed ASAP!

 

[Jessnaoter]

A tank is no where near big enough for one russuan let alone two. Please get each in a proper sized enclosure asap! Each needs it's own 4x8 foot enclosure. They are showing aggression with all that you are saying they are doing. The poor things are under stress from being together and such a small home.
We have seen it too many times on here, 2 tortoises together. Many threads in why they shouldnt be housed together as a pair and Russians are one of the top ones that shouldn't be. That and the small home need to be fixed ASAP!

The “tank” I have looks like this. But I was wondering if a rabbit hutch would work better.

 

[Tom]

Tortoises should never be kept in pairs. There does not have to be overt ramming and biting for this to be a problem. Its a problem and they need to be separated ASAP.

Neither of those enclosure is anywhere near large enough. They need a MINIMUM of 4x8 feet. That a whole sheet of plywood with sides.

Most of the care info given for tortoises is wrong. Its been wrong for decades, and most of tortoise keeping world has no idea. Here is the correct care info, and questions are welcome.

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[TammyJ]

You have been advised correctly and it's urgent. They do NOT need or want each other and each one is unhappy, so please separate them each in his and her own large enclosure. They will thank you!