19
Jan
Putting opposite-sex reptiles together 24-7 can mean trouble – but so can same-sex cohabitation. Its also worth noting that not all species of tortoises are as poorly suited to living in close quarters as others from the same species.
While this may seem like a silly question to more advanced keepers it is not without some merit.
Can different breeds of tortoises live together. Different tortoise species can live together as long as all of their different needs are fulfilled. A problem that could arise is that tortoises are not usually friendly towards each other but this is a general characteristic of tortoises it has nothing to do with the difference in species. It is not reccomended to keep two torts together of different species.
They will have slightly to very different diets and lifestyles. Also it is common for them to fight and i have heard of too many instances in which a new turtle has killed its roommate. Can different breeds of tortoises live together.
Now I know that different breeds need different requirements but can different types of Mediterranean tortoises live together happily. I have a marginated tortoise already and thinking of getting a second does it have to be a marginated tortoise. There was a man used to post here who kept different species of Tortoises together in a large yard also with no problem.
It is suggested not to but I personally have done it with no problem and in the Summer when I put mine outside Ill be keeping a very young Three Toed with a Cherry Head who are the same age in a small outdoor enclosure. Its also worth noting that not all species of tortoises are as poorly suited to living in close quarters as others from the same species. Red Foot tortoises and Pancake Tortoises for example live in colonies and will occupy the same living space or burrow in the wild.
Thats not to say that such species dont fight but theyre probably better suited to settling their differences quickly so that they can coexist in. Can you keep two different species together also as I very much like the look on leopard tortoises. You cannot mix breeds - apart from the breeding side of it they have totally different requirements so NOT advisable.
Any advice as to why this would be an ok thing to do or a situation to avoid would be very much appreciated. In the wild tortoises live relatively solitary lives. They usually come together for breeding purposes but live most of their lives alone.
Female tortoises may guard their nests but they do not protect or raise their babies. That means even very young tortoises naturally live on their own. With reptiles its not just a question of different species peacefully cohabiting.
In nature some male and female reptiles come together only to breed spending the rest of their lives apart. Putting opposite-sex reptiles together 24-7 can mean trouble – but so can same-sex cohabitation. The truth is.
Except for a few species like redfoot torts aldabras or pancake torts most tortoises are loners in the wild. They roam several acres and only occasionally encounter other tortoises. If a tortoise encounters another they will fight mate or both.
Then they wander apart again or one is chased away by the other. Like other terrestrial tortoises Russian Tortoises are solitary. Of course they interact with other tortoises to mate but keeping multiple Russian Tortoises can lead to problems.
Theyll probably be territorial in general not because of mating especially if theyre in a small terrarium. One of the most commonly asked questions among beginning reptile hobbyists is whether or not different species can live together in a single enclosure. While this may seem like a silly question to more advanced keepers it is not without some merit.
Why would it not make sense to keep one desert species with another. Tortoises can theoretically interbreed among different species however allowing or encouraging such behaviour is not advised. The resulting offspring may suffer health issues and will likely be unable to reproduce.
On the other hand closely related species that are genetically similar can breed. Green iguanas can be kept with ground-dwelling species such as some tortoises. Quarantine is a must.
All animals you wish to house together should be quarantined. Quarantine is the process of keeping an animal in a simplistic species-appropriate enclosure separate from all other animals for the purpose of determining good health. Tortoises are calm fun and entertaining pets.
It is estimated that over 350000 households keep different tortoise species in the US. This reptile is a slow land dweller that is often confused with turtles because of their similar appearance. However turtles mostly live in water whereas every tortoise breed lives on land.
When you consider the vast majority of illness in captive tortoises and turtles could be prevented with better husbandry it is evident that many keepers get even the basics wrong. This being the case it should be painfully obvious that keeping two or more different species in the same environment is completely inappropriate. See turtles break into their own families at this point separate from the tortoise family.
They include cheloniidae and dermochelyidae. Since we know that only organisms from the same species can mate and produce fertile offspring its impossible from a scientific standpoint for turtles and tortoises to mate. Tortoises can live very happily on their own.
Before introducing another you need to consider whether you have the room to accommodate an extra tortoise. You also need to ensure that the new tortoise is the same species and sub-species as your existing tortoise.