I have a Russian male tortoise, would it be okey to house him with another male?
Two male tortoises
- Thread starter whitnaaaaaay
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In my opinion it is not a good idea, russians are very territorial and will often fight with other tortoises especially the males. I keep all 3 of my male russians in separate enclosures to avoid problems. I am sure there are people out there that have successfully housed 2 males together but if you ask me it is not worth the risk. As a rule in general tortoises do not usually get along in pairs, groups of 1 male 3+ females in a very large enclosure and you will probably be ok but even then there is always risk of fights/injuries.
It depends upon the males and the size along with layout (hides and other visual blockers). It can be done and I have done it several tmes with two (or more) male Russians with no problems as have others. It's just easier to not do it, if you have the option.
No....No....No....unless you want to send one to rehab.
Sung to the song by Amy Winehouse.
But, on a serious note the Russian males will fight to decide territory. I had one draw blood when I experimented with trying 2 together...and I was in the room ...it happened shortly after a little "friendly" head bobbing. The little one was the more aggressive one.
Good luck!
Sung to the song by Amy Winehouse.
But, on a serious note the Russian males will fight to decide territory. I had one draw blood when I experimented with trying 2 together...and I was in the room ...it happened shortly after a little "friendly" head bobbing. The little one was the more aggressive one.
Good luck!
Do you play the lottery? What are the odds that they will get along without harming each other during their lifespan? 1 in a million? Play the lottery, but do not harm the torts. If you get a second male, have a separate pen.
Only if your cage is shaped like an octagon, and Dana White is available to come and sanction the event. Joe Rogan will need to be available to announce the event too. Then you'll have to have the belt ready for the winner. 
I always hear alot of no's on here about this, but I have a fairly large habitat with two males in it. There are times when they are opposite ends sleeping and times they are on top of each other in the same hole sleeping. They eat together and drink together all the time. Having said that, I would NEVER have put them together if they had not been roommates with about a half dozen other Russians when I got them and they will only be roommates until I can rehome one of them (they are rescues). They also have several line of sight obstructions in the habitat and plenty of room under the light to bask or soak up UVB.
Thanks so much for the advice, I might do a trial-run to see how it goes. Im not sure what the other tort is. My friend is just trying to rehome him. Maybe they will get along, but I see your point.
Wait what!?! Different species should not be housed together ever or ever.
Saleama said:
Correct. You are just catching on to this one too?
Pairs generally do not work. Of course there are occasional exceptions, but most of the time the outcome is pretty predictable.
Mixing species is like playing Russian roulette. 5 out of six people think its fine and no harm came to them. Talk to number six about mixing species. The guy who has put multiple species together and gotten away with it will tell you its fine. What's the big deal? The guy whose entire collection died from a tortoise disease that is common to one species, but not the species he put them with, will tell you to NEVER mix species. One's opinion often relates to one's experiences.
Name calling is unacceptable.
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Any comment directed at another member and not the topic will be removed
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If you want your comments to remain, then act like adults
At the begining of this thread, the question was if you can keep two males together, not if you can mix species. My answer is yes, you can keep two males together (which I have done). I personally do not keep two different species together (except out in my turtle pond).
ANY time you ae keeping more then one tortoise in with another, you take risks, be it two males, two females, a male and a female, a trio or more, or even two different species. Some keepers can do it with no problems, while others can not seem to manage it. You have to know your animals, your enclosures, and yourself.
I do hope you are planning to quarantine the new animal from your old one for a bit before trying them together.
After the quarantine time is up... sometimes it helps then to place the new one into the habitat they are going to live in, let him get settled in/explore the new home and then add the old one back in. That way the old one is not feeling the need to defend and dominate his enclosure.
ANY time you ae keeping more then one tortoise in with another, you take risks, be it two males, two females, a male and a female, a trio or more, or even two different species. Some keepers can do it with no problems, while others can not seem to manage it. You have to know your animals, your enclosures, and yourself.
whitnaaaaaay said:
I do hope you are planning to quarantine the new animal from your old one for a bit before trying them together.
After the quarantine time is up... sometimes it helps then to place the new one into the habitat they are going to live in, let him get settled in/explore the new home and then add the old one back in. That way the old one is not feeling the need to defend and dominate his enclosure.
Again, I am in agreement with Jacqui's second paragraph. I generally do not keep two males together, but I have done it successfully on multiple occasion. It requires some decent design and some luck as well. I currently, for the time being, have three males together. Two ivories and a leopard. No combat. They have ample provisions
Another tip is to try to move them out of the main living space for their first introduction aka neutral ground. In my experience, a male is somewhat more likely to be bothered by another if he is sitting in his territory and a male gets plopped in abruptly.
Another tip is to try to move them out of the main living space for their first introduction aka neutral ground. In my experience, a male is somewhat more likely to be bothered by another if he is sitting in his territory and a male gets plopped in abruptly.
So, is that a no?
Tom said:Only if your cage is shaped like an octagon, and Dana White is available to come and sanction the event. Joe Rogan will need to be available to announce the event too. Then you'll have to have the belt ready for the winner.
Yes, I will quarantine the other before. I will probably put him in a seperate cage from what I'm hearing from you guys. I won't force them on each other soon. I'm still quiet new to this, all all the research I have done, I have gotten both extremes.
Tom, I agree with you. Being responsible, why would you risk putting two males together, or various species together? I, for one, do not have the money to replace my animals.
It defies common sense, and that is why there is so much erroneous info about- most irresponsible people also lack an ounce of common sense.
It defies common sense, and that is why there is so much erroneous info about- most irresponsible people also lack an ounce of common sense.
Irish said:
I think it is good for folks to have open minds and realize that A) there is more then one way of doing things and doing them also correctly. B) to not make such negative comments about folks who do things different then yourself. Like you, my animals are not things to be easily replaced (mine mean much more then money value to me) and I would not do anything to risk them. My way is not more of an "erroneous" way nor me more "irresponsible" or lacking in "an ounce of common sense" then your way. My way is just different and has worked for me and my animals for many many years.
whitnaaaaaay said:
Sounds like a plan and like this thread has no further usage. Good luck! Have you found out yet what kind the other tortoiseis?
I have the money to "replace" (I do not see most of my animals as so simply replaceable, however, both as pets as well as for their other roles) my animals, but that is not a reason. I never have to do so based on my care decisions. I make investments. Replacing animals needlessly would be a poor investment from my perspective. I am not especially risk averse, but neither do I inflate or exaggerate risk nor do I dismiss real risks as minimal or nonexistent, as these two cognitive errors would just be different ways of distorting the facts. Not everyone has to do things the same way. Success is success.
As earlier, putting multiple males together can be done. Most do not. Some do successfully. Some do not. The animals may have as much to do with this as any arrangement and a person venturing into combined territory should realize the possibility for it to go either way.
As earlier, putting multiple males together can be done. Most do not. Some do successfully. Some do not. The animals may have as much to do with this as any arrangement and a person venturing into combined territory should realize the possibility for it to go either way.
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