Why not to keep 2 tortoises together - a lesson learned the hard way

[willee638]

My tort is perfectly happy with being alone although I did get him some rubber duck friends a while back

Yes, unless you want to breed them. Tortoises would probably bully each other regardless if both were females or both males or a male with a female. If I ever decide to have more than one I would have at lease 3 & up, so there won't be just one dominate over the other alone....& plenty of space to hide away from each other.

 

[Tortoisesarecool]

If you think your tortoise needs a friend just buy him a safe rubber duck.He may even cuddle with it mine does!

 

[Mollythetortoise]

My red foot tortoise is very happy only having me as her sole companion, I think tortoises like snakes & lizards ain't sociable animals to each other. They enjoy human company more because we pet them & feed them & not seen as hustle competitors, I agree you will have to keep them separated to avoid seeing each other most of the time & only bring them together each day for short periods under your attention.

Ok. That is perfectly fine. I was just wandering. I have now built a 5 foot by 2 1/2 foot tortoise table. Thanks for the help!

 

[Tom]

Hello! I’m new here and I have a 4 year old Russian tortoise named Molly. I am planning to build a big tortoise table soon. If when I build the table do you think it would be ok if I got another female Russian to go in with her?

There are 208 posts in this thread above yours. Did you read any of them?

 

[maggie3fan]

There are 208 posts in this thread above yours. Did you read any of them?

Oh holy Sh*t Tom, omg, seriously, that came out of left field. I thought it would be your normal humid hide lecture, where I would scroll down thru that part to the end. I am standing and bow to a master of sub oh crap, I lost my glasses. Oh god, I just can't stop laughing. 1-2-3 Yea Tom

 

[Mollythetortoise]

There are 208 posts in this thread above yours. Did you read any of them?

I’m sorry. I’m new here and I’m still trying to figure out the website a little bit.

 

[maggie3fan]

I’m sorry. I’m new here and I’m still trying to figure out the website a little bit.

and I really apologize for being disrespectful. The previous comment from a very serious member just hit my funny bone hard. Read some of the previous comments, that may really help you. Just randomly scroll up or down and read some comments. Then make your own thread, even I can make a thread, Oh, and add photos...Welcome

 

[Tom]

I’m sorry. I’m new here and I’m still trying to figure out the website a little bit.

The title of this thread and every post in it is about NOT keeping tortoises in pairs.

I apologize for my rudeness, and will be more kind when answering your future posts.

 

[Mollythetortoise]

and I really apologize for being disrespectful. The previous comment from a very serious member just hit my funny bone hard. Read some of the previous comments, that may really help you. Just randomly scroll up or down and read some comments. Then make your own thread, even I can make a thread, Oh, and add photos...Welcome

Ok. It’s ok. Here are some photos of her table.

 

[maggie3fan]

That is a pretty nice set up. But remember, tortoises are solitary animals, they look at other tortoises as competition for the food, the best sleeping spot and stuff like that. Molly does not want company. Really

 

[Tom]

Ok. It’s ok. Here are some photos of her table.

Those ramped water bowls are tortoise death traps. You should replace it with a terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate.

 

[Mollythetortoise]

The title of this thread and every post in it is about NOT keeping tortoises in pairs.

I apologize for my rudeness, and will be more kind when answering your future posts.

Thank you! Again I’m still new here and figuring out how it works. I forgive you 100%

 

[Sheldon_2711]

Thank you for posting this! l was about to get another tortoise for Sheldon because he was "lonely" lmao

 

[Mollythetortoise]

Thank you for posting this! l was about to get another tortoise for Sheldon because he was "lonely" lmao

Oh wow! I was about to too but then I decided to ask here first just in case!

 

[willee638]

Before joining this very knowledgeable and informative tortoise forum, I too was completely ignorant of tortoise behaviours. I never have imagined they would be so aggressive toward each other as a species, the pet shop where I bought my beautiful red foot tort tried to convince me to buy a pair of them but I'm glad I refused. It is human nature to think when an animal like tortoises are alone they're lonely by themselves, but my tort is very happy with just me.