Just a newbie with 3 torts N' some other reptiles.

[Totally_Tortoise]

Hi, I am a 16 year old boy who lives in Madera California (which is in the central valley) and I have 3 tortoises. I have 2 baby sulcatas that are each about 7 months and a Russian tortoise that I adopted about 2 and 1/2 years ago. Me and my dad are going to start working on a large tortoise enclosure in our back yard for some sulcatas because we plan to adopt some already adult torts. If I ever get a home with a large yard I plan on having some tortoises for sure.

 

[TechnoCheese]

Welcome! Have a look at these care sheets and come back with questions.
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php...ealthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
Beginner Mistakes
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/
I’m assuming that your Russian and sulcatas are not kept together, correct?
If the sulcatas are together, they need to be separated.
Could we see pictures of your tortoises and enclosures?
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Totally_Tortoise]

Welcome! Have a look at these care sheets and come back with questions.
How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/How-To-Raise-A-Healthy-Sulcata-Or-Leopard,-Version-2.0.79895/
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
Beginner Mistakes
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/
I’m assuming that your Russian and sulcatas are not kept together, correct?
If the sulcatas are together, they need to be separated.
Could we see pictures of your tortoises and enclosures?
Welcome to the forum!

Yes my Russian is separated, and I will send pictures when I get home and download the app. Do i need to separate two baby sulcatas?

 

[TechnoCheese]

Yes my Russian is separated, and I will send pictures when I get home and download the app. Do i need to separate two baby sulcatas?

Yes. Sulcatas are very territorial, and do not want or need “friends” nor do they have the ability to make them. All it does is cause unneeded stress.

 

[Totally_Tortoise]

Yes. Sulcatas are very territorial, and do not want or need “friends” nor do they have the ability to make them. All it does is cause unneeded stress.

okay, thanks for the info, I'll separate them when I can

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome!

Sometimes groups of tortoises work out ok, but if you read between the lines on some of those web sites where they show a whole ranch full of sulcatas you see that they have fights and deaths due to fights. Unless you can monitor a group of tortoises many times throughout the day, it's just best to keep single animals. Go ahead and have a group, if that's what you want, but keep each in his own enclosure.

 

[Totally_Tortoise]

Hi, and welcome!

Sometimes groups of tortoises work out ok, but if you read between the lines on some of those web sites where they show a whole ranch full of sulcatas you see that they have fights and deaths due to fights. Unless you can monitor a group of tortoises many times throughout the day, it's just best to keep single animals. Go ahead and have a group, if that's what you want, but keep each in his own enclosure.

I heard that if sulcatas are raised together then they will be less aggressive to each other, I don't know how true it is though.

 

[RosemaryDW]

I heard that if sulcatas are raised together then they will be less aggressive to each other, I don't know how true it is though.

Welcome to the forum!

It is not at all true. They may be less noticeably aggressive while they are young but once they hit adulthood, it’s over. Tortoises can be housed in groups (one male, three females) in a large space. Otherwise, everyone is in their own enclosure.

Tortoises are not social animals. They see other tortoises as competition for food and space, period.

 

[Totally_Tortoise]

Welcome to the forum!

It is not at all true. They may be less noticeably aggressive while they are young but once they hit adulthood, it’s over. Tortoises can be housed in groups (one male, three females) in a large space. Otherwise, everyone is in their own enclosure.

Tortoises are not social animals. They see other tortoises as competition for food and space, period.

OK thanks, just wanted to clear that up and see if it was true.

 

[RosemaryDW]

OK thanks, just wanted to clear that up and see if it was true.

No problem. It’s a really common misperception. Pet stores in particular share it; they are in the business of selling and so of course will suggest two are better than one.

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to the site!