Newbies saying hello!

[Linda and Mark]

Hello, we are proud owners of 2 spur thigh tortoises! So glad we are now part of this community as will definitely be asking questions!

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum, @Linda and Mark !

Please post pics of your tort as well as his/her enclosure, so as to enable us to help you/give you advise.

Read the "Beginners Mistakes" Thread please, and ask any question when in doubt/need help.

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome from Kent, UK

Are those your torts in your avatar?

I recommend you read the TFO care guides if you haven't already

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Care if young Testudo (written about Russians, but applies to Greeks like yours too)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

We love photos and photos of your enclosure and lighting will help us to help you.

Just a word of warning that, regardless of gender, these tortoises are territorial and do not do well as pairs.

They are liners that don't need, want, or particularly like company. Another tortoise is simply competition for food and territory.


There is always a dominant tort and the subordinate tort becomes less active, eats less and fails to thrive; it could become very sick indeed.

They should be kept entirely separately. If you decide to breed later on then introduce them to mate before separating them again

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Linda and Mark, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum .,

 

[RosemaryDW]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi

 

[Linda and Mark]

Hello and welcome from Kent, UK

Are those your torts in your avatar?

I recommend you read the TFO care guides if you haven't already

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Care if young Testudo (written about Russians, but applies to Greeks like yours too)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

We love photos and photos of your enclosure and lighting will help us to help you.

Just a word of warning that, regardless of gender, these tortoises are territorial and do not do well as pairs.

They are liners that don't need, want, or particularly like company. Another tortoise is simply competition for food and territory.


There is always a dominant tort and the subordinate tort becomes less active, eats less and fails to thrive; it could become very sick indeed.

They should be kept entirely separately. If you decide to breed later on then introduce them to mate before separating them again

Hello, thank you for this advice, is this more likely to happen as they mature, they are a year old?

 

[JoesMum]

Hello, thank you for this advice, is this more likely to happen as they mature, they are a year old?

It could happen at any time. If you don't separate them now then be very alert for one being less outgoing and/or not growing as fast as the other.

Sometimes bullying is visible - one mounting, climbing, ramming or biting the other. Your avatar shows climbing!

Frequently it is more subtle mental bullying. Cuddling up to sleep together, for example, is actually one tortoise trying to stop the other sleeping in a particular spot and trying to tell it to move on.

 

[Linda and Mark]

Aw thank you, at the moment they sleep opposite ends of the compartment, I am now very alert and we will not hesitate to separate them if I even think one is in danger, thank you again

 

[PJay]

Welcome to TFO!

 

[no one]

Hello and Welcome!!
I would make them seperate enclosures to be safe. You are not always there to watch over them I assume.

 

[Carol S]

Welcome to the Forum.