Keeping Tortoises Together

Owing to the risk of cross species infection, it is best to keep individuals of only one species of tortoise together.

You can keep several species by separating them to different areas of your garden or greenhouse, or seperate indoor pens. However you must be very careful not to share food dishes or other materials between them. Always wash your hands between handling each different species. 

Within a single species group, tortoises usually do well together and enjoy each other's company. A well matched pair like our oldest Spur-thighed tortoises, will often sit nose to nose, and nuzzle each other with obvious affection.

However virile male tortoises can sometimes become overbearing, especially on hot days. They will torment the females, or sometimes other males (or even an old boot in the case of one of our males!).

The male tortoise's courtship involves ramming the front of his shell directly at the backside of his beloved. If this doesn't halt her from running off, he will rush round to her front and nip her feet or nose. This makes the female retire back into her shell and so immobilises her.

The ardent male will then race back around to her back end for another assualt. Not very romantic!

A small amount of this behaviour is natural and healthy for the male and should be allowed. However the female (or other males) should never be left with an over amorous male for long periods or they will become stressed and can even be damaged.

On hot days therefore it's best to keep males and females seperate and this should always be the case if you don't want to risk your female tortoise laying fertile eggs. Breeding tortoises is a skilled task and carries a number of risks for the breeding female, so should not be undertaken lightly.

Having said that, we have successfully bred Spur-thighed and Herman's tortoises and vouch for it being a completely fascinating hobby. Although we have raised some tortoises for a national zoo, to help with their conservation efforts, we don't generally breed tortoises for sale. 

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