My husband and I had purchased a hatchling Leopard tort at the end of August. The store owner thinks it is male. We decided to get another one, and just brought it home today (the beginning of October). They got along fine at first, but after about a half hour together the first one started pushing his nose into the other one. It looked like he was sniffing the new one. He then bit the front leg of the new one. They are both hatchlings. Is this normal? Should we be concerned that they are going to cause harm to one another?
Introducing a new hatchling
- Thread starter steveandjackiec
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. Tortoises are loner animals. They are better kept in groups of three or more in a very large outdoor enclosure. You will have to house the two separate or the older one could keep bullying the newer one and she will get sick and possibly die. Also, please read Toms threads below for raising a healthy, smooth leopard. The sulcata threads will apply also to your leopards.
. Tortoises are loner animals. They are better kept in groups of three or more in a very large outdoor enclosure. You will have to house the two separate or the older one could keep bullying the newer one and she will get sick and possibly die. Also, please read Toms threads below for raising a healthy, smooth leopard. The sulcata threads will apply also to your leopards.
Oh wow, I had no idea that little hatchlings would start bullying each other so early. Great question. Can't wait to hear what others have experienced ...
Thank you for the reply! There has been no more biting. The 'older' one, Flash, still pushes his nose onto the shell of the 'younger' one, Thor. He does this with our cat, too. I don't know if this is normal behavior, if he is trying to get to know Thor, or if it is just unique to him. I have been trying to research it, but have not found an accurate explaination on this behavior.
It is a form of bullying/dominance. You'd be best to separate them. Tortoise usually don't let us know they are sick, until they are really sick. Your newer one could suffer from the bullying. Not get enough food, the best basking or sleeping spots, not enough water. Bullying isn't always as obvious as biting.
If you can keep a very close eye on them, you could try putting in two hides, water dishes, food dishes and some sight barriers and see how it goes. I would wait too long though to separate them if it continues.
If you can keep a very close eye on them, you could try putting in two hides, water dishes, food dishes and some sight barriers and see how it goes. I would wait too long though to separate them if it continues.
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