Do hors fields benefit from having a partner with them in their enclosure
 

Hello i have a horsfield tortoise and i was just wandering would she benefit from having a playmate with her inside her enclosure.
Thanks.

Not sure about the playing but mine do seem happier when they are together seems like a good reason to get anotherone:lol: but just be aware they might not get on how old is yours

Mine is 4 years old almost 5.

Just be prepared to seperate. I have 2 horsfields and they lived together happiy for 3 years and then, in a space of a couple of days, all hell broke loose and they started fighting. Blood and scales missing!!!!! They get can get very nasty.

They now live separatley as nexxt door neighbours...

Row xx

Would it be advisable for me to wait a while till she gets older also if i were to get a tort which gender should i get

Not sure on what gender, but if you get a male he will pester her. They are very aggressive when mating. I think you're emant to have 3 females to 1 male ratio.

2 females may get on I don't know as I have 2 boys.

Row xx

Here's a link to another post. There's a video of how they can fight!!!

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...t=44375&page=3

Row

Like Row said they will fight as for the vid clip thats the male chaseing the female very normal ,you need to leave them to it but be ready to intervene if he starts to draw blood. i have five that live together fine apart from a very randy male who dosent know when to give in:roll:

Depends a lot on individuals and space. Since you have one female on her own get a female if you get anything but you need to be prepared. We found out the hard way that 2 females will fight for dominance at some point, if there isn't enough space and separate places to hide/bask/feed then you can end up with an injury. Ended up with 2 separate 4ft vivs but they pined for each other so they go in the exercise pen together. But ours are oddities in that they're impossible to permanently separate.

If your tortoise is happy right now it's probably better to leave it. They would fight at some point to figure out who's boss and the one who comes off worst is at risk of infections due to the stress. Generally speaking Horsfield's are solitary so she shouldn't suffer for lack of a 'buddy'.

I think another tortoise would be a benefit because it usually stimulates active behavior one way or another. It wouldn't really be a playmate as such but there would be interaction.

Missed reading the other posts... The norm is that they don't fight. It is the odd situation where there might be some conflict.