I bought another Russian tort HELP

[Shelbylengyel]

I've had my first russian tortoise for two years now and just bought another one three days ago. The two tortoises have gotten along fine. Neither have hissed or really cared that each other are there. My first is probably 6 years old and the new one is about 3 or 4 years I would guess. The new tort actually tried to go in the same log with my other one and the other one just walked out probably because it isn't used to the new one. My first tort is a male and the new one is a female. Neither seems to be in any distress and they haven't tried to harm each other. However, they are both not eating now and spend most time in their log. I am gone during the day so I am not sure if they roam around during the day I just know that my first tort, Leo (make) is usually a lot more active. I have heard that two males can try and fight and that a male can try to have sex with the female leaving her distressed but that hasn't happened. He just walks past her and doesn't seem to care. I am just really worried since they both are not eating and the new female has not pooped or peed neither has my male it's making me really sad and worried. I know they clearly aren't used to each other but they definitely don't hate one another. Any thoughts? Thanks!

Shelby

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Leo (male)* and both torts have separate logs

 

[vanilla13gorilla]

Not sure... my RT live fine with each other, however one dose like to sit on all of the food when they eat.. not that big of a deal. I hear RT can be a little 'odd' with a new companion. I only had this happen once.. I simply had them together once a day, for a short amount of time, and each day increasing the time together.. otherwise, they lived in the same enclosure, I just made a divider so they did not cross each other, saved some money. try soaking them once a day also... i did that sometimes with the two together.. Also, might want to try to add another log?. what size enclosure are you using?. I have seen times when they are too 'cramped' together and each ones need it's own space..

It just might take some time, be patient, 9 times out of 10 they will get along fine.. just don't rush it.

Hope that helps a little...

 

[Yvonne G]

It's too late to warn you now, but for future additions you should always quarantine them before putting them into the same enclosure. You never know what kinds of disease or micro organisms new tortoises might be carrying.

Your two tortoises might get along fine for a while. But sooner or later, the breeding bug is going to bite your male and he's going to start pestering the female. Male Russians pester female russians until pretty soon she just hides in a corner to stay out of his way.

 

[Saleama]

I second what Yvonne said. You should never put them together without first providing quarantine house for the new one. As for not getting along, I had no problem when I introduced a new female to my 1.1 mix, however, mine are in a 10 x 12 outdoor garden with lots of plants and places to hide. You may want to consider this type of arrangement soon.

For now, I would feed on seperate ends of the habitat if it is big enough, you never told us how big of an area they have. If you do not have something that is huge, 8 feet long at least, then you should look into getting one.

Above all else, get a second enclosure just in case you need it.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Re: RE: I bought another Russian tort HELP

It just might take some time, be patient, 9 times out of 10 they will get along fine.. just don't rush it.

Hope that helps a little...

I'd lean more towards saying 9 times out of 10 they will end up fighting or the submissive one will suffer from constant severe stress... (for a pair indoors, not a group outside. But even that isn't guaranteed to work out)

 

[vanilla13gorilla]

It just might take some time, be patient, 9 times out of 10 they will get along fine.. just don't rush it.

Hope that helps a little...

I'd lean more towards saying 9 times out of 10 they will end up fighting or the submissive one will suffer from constant severe stress... (for a pair indoors, not a group outside. But even that isn't guaranteed to work out)

I guess so, but I have not had that issue, but to each their own...