I’m a new mum to two five year old Horsefield tortoises!

angelese3891

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Hi all, this is my first time owning tortoises. I saw these two who needed a new home and couldn’t not help them….they were living in an unsuitable flat with green felt bedding lining a wooden structure and not adequately cared for. I only got them this morning, I’ve fed them they’ve loved a bit of time in the garden today in the sunshine however, when together one gets on the other ones back? I’ve read up that they prefer to be alone, I think one is a girl and one a boy from what I was told, they are both 5 years old and not related by all accounts. I really think I need to separate them before they hurt each other, now realise why the girl may have been wanting to get rid of them. I’ve posted some pics, can anyone tell me if they can tell if boy/girl, also their beaks look overgrown should I have them trimmed? Thanks so much, I’m just glad they are going to be happier but just need to get them sorted and need some help thanks. I think the first pics are the girl, she’s bigger.
 

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jsheffield

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Welcome to TFO!

To me, it looks like you have a girl and a boy, which definitely would do better with separate enclosures.

The Russian Tortoise sub-forum is a great place to do some reading.

Also, read this post/thread for a great guide to their general care: https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...ise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

I live with four Russians at the moment, and (don't tell the other torts, but) they may be my favorites. They're personable, hardy, curious, lovely, and pretty easy to feed.

Come back with questions, or simply to share pictures of them doing their thing.

Thanks,

Jamie
 

zolasmum

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Welcome to TFO!

To me, it looks like you have a girl and a boy, which definitely would do better with separate enclosures.

The Russian Tortoise sub-forum is a great place to do some reading.

Also, read this post/thread for a great guide to their general care: https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...ise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

I live with four Russians at the moment, and (don't tell the other torts, but) they may be my favorites. They're personable, hardy, curious, lovely, and pretty easy to feed.

Come back with questions, or simply to share pictures of them doing their thing.

Thanks,

Jamie
Hello and welcome from Devon. I think the first photos are of a female, as you thought, and the later ones of a male.
His beak looks long, viewed from below, and you might like a vet to trim it first time,and then perhaps try filing a bit off at home in future, as needed - couldn't see the female's beak enough to tell.
Thank you so much for taking these little chaps on- they will be so much happier with space to move and have fun- but in separate enclosures. I don't know if you are aware that Russians are very good climbers, so that will be important in planning enclosures too.
I hope everything goes well for you and them.
Best wishes
Angie
 

angelese3891

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Sep 4, 2021
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Nantwich cheshire
Welcome to TFO!

To me, it looks like you have a girl and a boy, which definitely would do better with separate enclosures.

The Russian Tortoise sub-forum is a great place to do some reading.

Also, read this post/thread for a great guide to their general care: https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...ise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

I live with four Russians at the moment, and (don't tell the other torts, but) they may be my favorites. They're personable, hardy, curious, lovely, and pretty easy to feed.

Come back with questions, or simply to share pictures of them doing their thing.

Thanks,
Hello and welcome from Devon. I think the first photos are of a female, as you thought, and the later ones of a male.
His beak looks long, viewed from below, and you might like a vet to trim it first time,and then perhaps try filing a bit off at home in future, as needed - couldn't see the female's beak enough to tell.
Thank you so much for taking these little chaps on- they will be so much happier with space to move and have fun- but in separate enclosures. I don't know if you are aware that Russians are very good climbers, so that will be important in planning enclosures too.
I hope everything goes well for you and them.
Best wishes
Angie
Thanks so much….this is a picture of her beak I don’t think it’s as bad as his, I’ve got some cuttle fish and will get them booked in for a health check up as soon as I can but I love them ?
 

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wellington

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The beak doesnt look bad to me. But you do have to house them separately. That male will harrasse the one female to death. Tortoises should never be kept or sold in pairs.
 

zolasmum

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Thanks so much….this is a picture of her beak I don’t think it’s as bad as his, I’ve got some cuttle fish and will get them booked in for a health check up as soon as I can but I love them ?
Of course you love them! How could you help it!
They are such entertaining and cute creatures.What are their names?
I think the cuttlefish will probably be enough for the girl, but maybe not for the boy -good idea to get them checked over.See what the vet says - but bear in mind that people on this forum often know a lot more than any ordinary vet does, so always ask people like Jamie first.
Good luck
Angie
 

Yvonne G

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This is going to be confusing for you, but I'm seeing two boy tails. In my opinion, both the tortoises are male.
 

zolasmum

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Oh gosh ??‍♀️ I’m so confused….
Well, if Yvonne says that, she is almost certainly right, and I apologise for being wrong. It doesn't make any difference to separating them or anything else, so just carry on as before and don't worry about it !
Angie
 

angelese3891

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Well, if Yvonne says that, she is almost certainly right, and I apologise for being wrong. It doesn't make any difference to separating them or anything else, so just carry on as before and don't worry about it !
Angie
Well, if Yvonne says that, she is almost certainly right, and I apologise for being wrong. It doesn't make any difference to separating them or anything else, so just carry on as before and don't worry about it !
Angie
This is my “girl” as I thought hoping more pics may help boy to follow thanks so much for being so helpful ??
 

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angelese3891

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And this is my “boy” he seems to curl his tail more than her…can’t pull it out sorry and don’t want to upset him/her
 

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zolasmum

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And this is my “boy” he seems to curl his tail more than her…can’t pull it out sorry and don’t want to upset him/her
You will probably be sure fairly soon, when one or both of them matures enough to start "mating" with all sorts of random objects -and "flashes" you!!
 

Yvonne G

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Oh gosh ??‍♀️ I’m so confused….
I'm seeing a big, fat tail in the tortoise in the second set of pictures and in the first picture the cloaca is pretty far away from the body.
 

Yvonne G

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This is my “girl” as I thought hoping more pics may help boy to follow thanks so much for being so helpful ??
Nope. Male for sure. The cloaca is almost to the tip of the tail. A female's would be closer to the base of the tail.

Sometimes when two males are kept together the more submissive of the two has weaker-looking sexual characteristics. . . in this case, a smaller tail.
 
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Lyn W

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Hi and welcome,
Thanks for giving these two a much better home, and whatever the gender, now they have their own space they'll be even happier. Looks like you have a lovely big garden, but bear in mind they need to be contained as they are very good climbers and diggers and no matter how good a home they have they'll do their best to escape any boundaries.
The 'raising temperate species' care sheet that jsheffield linked will be a great help to you.
You may find this useful too if you're planning on keeping them outdoors.

You'll also find www.thetortoisetable.org.uk a great help in finding tort safe foods.
 
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