Groups seem to work ok

[Smallease]

Hi, we have four tortoises (sorry I am not sure which breed despite many attempts at trying to work it out) two males and two females, they’ve lived together for 10+ years and despite having a choice of overnight dens they always end up in the same den all closely nestled in to each other. The only time it’s different is if the larger female is gravid in which case she likes to be on her own. I know they are meant to be non social but I’ve always found them to be quite social with each other. They don’t fight but they do regularly mate with the older female (they don’t bite her as she doesn’t seem to need it - just carries on eating whilst they do their business. Both males will mate with her although the youngest one doesn’t really know what he’s doing and often tries to mount sideways or falls off as she’s much bigger. The younger female doesn’t get much attention but she’s quite quick so can avoid them if she chooses to! They have a very large area of around 20sq meters with plenty of foliage and shrubbery to hide in but without fail they will put themselves to bed each night at the same time in the same den (the dens alternate as do the order in which they go in so it’s not the same one choosing each time!)
Just thought I’d add my own observations!

 

[method89]

Hi, we have four tortoises (sorry I am not sure which breed despite many attempts at trying to work it out) two males and two females, they’ve lived together for 10+ years and despite having a choice of overnight dens they always end up in the same den all closely nestled in to each other. The only time it’s different is if the larger female is gravid in which case she likes to be on her own. I know they are meant to be non social but I’ve always found them to be quite social with each other. They don’t fight but they do regularly mate with the older female (they don’t bite her as she doesn’t seem to need it - just carries on eating whilst they do their business. Both males will mate with her although the youngest one doesn’t really know what he’s doing and often tries to mount sideways or falls off as she’s much bigger. The younger female doesn’t get much attention but she’s quite quick so can avoid them if she chooses to! They have a very large area of around 20sq meters with plenty of foliage and shrubbery to hide in but without fail they will put themselves to bed each night at the same time in the same den (the dens alternate as do the order in which they go in so it’s not the same one choosing each time!)
Just thought I’d add my own observations!

can we get more pictures?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, we have four tortoises (sorry I am not sure which breed despite many attempts at trying to work it out) two males and two females, they’ve lived together for 10+ years and despite having a choice of overnight dens they always end up in the same den all closely nestled in to each other. The only time it’s different is if the larger female is gravid in which case she likes to be on her own. I know they are meant to be non social but I’ve always found them to be quite social with each other. They don’t fight but they do regularly mate with the older female (they don’t bite her as she doesn’t seem to need it - just carries on eating whilst they do their business. Both males will mate with her although the youngest one doesn’t really know what he’s doing and often tries to mount sideways or falls off as she’s much bigger. The younger female doesn’t get much attention but she’s quite quick so can avoid them if she chooses to! They have a very large area of around 20sq meters with plenty of foliage and shrubbery to hide in but without fail they will put themselves to bed each night at the same time in the same den (the dens alternate as do the order in which they go in so it’s not the same one choosing each time!)
Just thought I’d add my own observations!

View attachment 295053

This one might be a Hermanns tortoise.

 

[Smallease]

I think it depends upon whether the dominant male is STRONGLY dominant.

Ah yes, I wouldn’t describe him as super dominant - he’s a cheeky little thing but will give up if it becomes too much effort - ie chasing involved!

 

[Smallease]

Hi, I’ll post them in order! This first one is our oldest female, when she first came to us (4 years ago) one of her front claws was hanging off and she had a dent on her shell (still visible) she was underweight, she was given to me along with the two males (I originally only had the one youngest female). The previous owner didn’t know what sex or breed they were. The previous owners were an elderly couple and the torts came to me when they were both terminally ill. They had them for over 6 years prior to then and had always kept them together and hibernated them every year (!!)

 

[Smallease]

Ah yes, I wouldn’t describe him as super dominant - he’s a cheeky little thing but will give up if it becomes too much effort - ie chasing involved!

Second eldest one - super cheeky, investigates everything - he would be the dominant male as he is obviously older than the other male but they don’t fight (yet...) they’ve been together with the older female for over 10 years

 

[Smallease]

Ah yes, I wouldn’t describe him as super dominant - he’s a cheeky little thing but will give up if it becomes too much effort - ie chasing involved!

Third eldest - he’s a male

 

[Smallease]

Third eldest - he’s a male View attachment 295169View attachment 295170View attachment 295171View attachment 295169View attachment 295171

Oops the underside one is of the older female sorry!!

 

[Smallease]

Finally our youngest who is also our original Tort that I was given 11 years ago - she is super quick!!

 

[Ink]

They are so cute ?. I am jealous of your beautiful herd! I love my two (kept separate) Hermann and leopard

 

[LasTortugasNinja]

There are always stresses when solitary animals are kept together, even if you can't see it or perceive it. The stresses of establishing and keeping a territory from others, food guarding, involuntary matings, etc. All these stresses strain the immunity system of reptiles kept together. It's like keeping a bunch of toddlers together and forcing them to share a toy. All you got are 4 upset toddlers. Males definitely will stress each other. Some are outright combative. Others it's "psychological" … ie showing dominance by being "too snuggly" with the rival. If you absolutely HAVE to keep them together, have as many separate hiding spaces, burrows, feeding spots, and water spots as you can. If you see them bunching together, separate them to different corners. Reptiles are the inventors of "passive aggressive" behavior.