tortoise friends??

[ccschwitzer]

hi all,

I currently have @ 1 baby CDT. I really want to get him a friend, but I'm not sure if it’s a good idea. He's only about 7 months old. Are tortoises typically ok when new torts are introduced? or do they become territorial? Or are they happier in pairs?

Thanks

 

[Tortoise Hub]

Tortoises are perfectly fine by themselves. Babies are not territorial at all as far as I know I have had several baby tortoises together with no problems at all including two baby deserts at the moment. I would not say they are happier in pairs I think they do the same in my experience.

 

[Laura]

usually happier alone.. healthier too.
if you introduce another, you have to be very careful and be prepared to
ahve two enclosures...

 

[GregUnd]

You know.... I've had the same thoughts before..... I've asked around, here and from other very respected breeders from around here(names to be unmentioned), but as I understand in general, if they grow up together the domination is already established. Of course, if your drop a mature male in front of another mature male that have never seen eachother before, of course they're going to fight, but after the fight they learn their place. I've got a baby sulcata at the moment and after the next batch has hatched, "she" will be getting a friend.

 

[bikerchicspain]

I have at the moment all mine together, male and females,
they are all fine and each one knows its pecking order, Mini the large female eats first with miya a smaller female then Henri can eat with AJ (unsexed).
Then Pumpkin and the other russian male eat along side alfie a young greek male,

 

[dmmj]

You are probably gonna see this a lot, but they don't need friends, that is us putting our emotions on them. You can get more than one, but be prepared if they start fighting or bullying one and another to separate them.

 

[dmarcus]

They are very happy alone and like everyone has said, they may get along or there may be issues. So if you decided to get another one, just be prepared to separate them if they don't get along...Good luck with what ever you decide..

 

[ascott]

Hi...we have four male Ca Desert Tortoises. They are all relaxed in their own habitats. Two of the oldest males use to live together in the same habitat (prior to them being turned over to me) and while most of the time they got along...during winter....then the younger of the two would turn gladiator on the old man, well during spring-summer LOL....problem was is alot of silent torment goes on that is not right away noticed and they both can suffer undo stress....so they are now no longer room mates and they are both now able to just be themselves ...which is awesome. Also we as host do all that we can to give them an environment that mimics their wild environment but we can never match all elements perfectly and in the wild they would work things out (sometimes nicely sometimes not) I personally wish we lived in a world in which our tortoises could remain where they were designed to be...in the wild...but unfortunately some of our tortoises have been put in the line of harms way and end up on some damn list showing as a threatened species...so it is our responsibility to assure we keep the displaced ones as safe and secure as possible....we did it to them so it is the least we can do. Also remember with this CDT species that there are so many waiting to be adopted that we need to remember to not house the males/females together

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I was going to say that mental bullying happens too so you'd have to watch out for that. Tortoises look upon other tortoises as partners for sex or competition for the food or the best sleeping spot. If YOU want more than one tortoise it's best to just keep them separate...

 

[ccschwitzer]

ok, sold! only one tort for now then. thanks all