***FRIENDS??**

Kelly71

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Hi,
I just wonder do torts need a friend?? This person told me torts need other
torts to make them happy??? Thanks
 

SweetGreekTorts

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Tortoises are not a social species and prefer to have their own space. So a friend is not needed (and would be unwanted) to them. Putting two females together will result in bullying, and one dominating the other. A male will constantly harass and try to mate a female. Two males together will fight over territory. Regardless of the situation, it's nothing but a stressful situation to both tortoises involved.

In the wild, the adults only get together to mate and go their separate ways. Females lay their eggs and leave. Babies enter this world completely on their own. Definitely not family-oriented and prefer to enjoy this life on their own.
 

Tom

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Some species can coexist in groups with the right sex ratios and the right enclosure, but they are not "friends" and do not "need" company. They do best all alone.

The person who told you that is mistaken. Please invite them to come here and learn.
 

Toddrickfl1

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I like to think of myself as my Torts only friend but who am I kidding, if I don't have food he hates me.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Mine don't hate me when I have no food, they just have no use for me.
That's probably a better way of putting it lol.
 

TammyJ

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Hello there, Kelly71. I guess by now you have your answer. Reptiles in general don't want or need friends. But you can be its friend without its even knowing, by providing everything it needs to thrive under your care!:)
 

Kelly71

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Hi All
Thanks for weighing in on this. I thought they really didnt "like friends" but
what do I know?? lol Only Sunny. This person almost was saying I was mean
by not getting her a friend. I feel better now. Anyways I forgot she LOVES my
chocolate Lab Penny!! They are BFFs lol Thanks
 

Reptilony

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Hi All
Thanks for weighing in on this. I thought they really didnt "like friends" but
what do I know?? lol Only Sunny. This person almost was saying I was mean
by not getting her a friend. I feel better now. Anyways I forgot she LOVES my
chocolate Lab Penny!! They are BFFs lol Thanks
Is Penny a dog?
 

ZEROPILOT

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It's all a lot to take in. I know.
Trying to think like a tortoise, etc.
And it's also very true that dogs...Even dogs that have been around tortoises for years will often just one day decide that the tortoise looks like a chew toy.
It's not the dog being vicious. It's just being a dog.
 

Karen S

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Hi,
I just wonder do torts need a friend?? This person told me torts need other
torts to make them happy??? Thanks


Some species are more social than others, and if there’s a TON of space you can have a group graze around. We don’t know what they want or think, but from their behavior, they probably don’t enjoy company, especially in close quarters.
It’s not a need, and it’s probably better if they don’t have one. But my garbage opinion is to get a more social species and have a few in a LaRgE enclosure.
 

TammyJ

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Dogs are man's best friends. They also chew up tortoises. Seriously. Even Fido and Sweetie may do that sooner or later. Sorry!
 

Wendy Proulx

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20E06C7A-CA54-4AC1-B77C-E6369560B093.jpeg I agree they don’t need friends, but my new babies are always sleeping near each other. They have plenty of room, but I find them like this most of the time.
 

jockma

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View attachment 252481 I agree they don’t need friends, but my new babies are always sleeping near each other. They have plenty of room, but I find them like this most of the time.

I read some posts on here about how sleeping next to each other is actually a sign of aggression/bullying. I don’t know about babies, though.

EDIT: Actually looking at the picture, I do think this is an aggressive act. :( I don’t know about sleeping NEAR each other, but laying on top of another tortoise like that when they have plenty of room looks like one of them is trying to exert dominance.
 

Kelly71

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Hi All,
Sorry I guess I should have picked better words? lol I was just joking about
my dog, she never even gets close to Sunny just looking threw her cage at
the dog? lol I was really just meaning friends with other torts? I have noticed
also alot of people on the form have more then 1 tort? Maybe its just I dont
know them very well they dont really live together in the same cage? Thanks
Hope this clears the dog thing up! lol
 

TammyJ

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Maybe hatchlings still have a kind of "bunch" awareness like when they were in the eggs.
 
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