New owner of two Horsefield Tortoises

Ben Y · 24-01-2015, 01:27 PM

Hello everyone,

I have recently bought two 1 year old Horsefield Tortoises.

Everything seems to be going fine but I just want to set my mind at rest due to a few things I've noticed.

First of all, they both seem to get on with each other fine and cuddle up at night however I am unable to sex them at this time due to their age and size.
If I were to guess I would say two males cause their tails are fairly long but that's just a guess. I know if they are one male and one female they'll need separating at an older age, is this the same for two males due to fighting or will they be fine.

Another thing is one is a bit larger than the other. The smaller little chap is about 2 1/4" and the larger one 3 1/2" with a darker shell is this normal to have two tortoises the same age and such a different size gap and darker shell?
The little guy seems to eat more than the bigger one and has been known to steal food from the larger one right out of his grasp.

However I've noticed over the past two days some inconsistencies with the little guy. He appears to have a swollen eye I am pretty sure he's got some dust or dirt in it as he keeps scratching it. It's not majorly swollen as none of my family can see it. Also he has today done a fairly large runny poo. I am putting that down to the salad leafs I am feeding them as I am waiting for my weed seeds to grow. The salad leafs are lettuce (not iceberg) romaine lettuce I think, cabbage and some carrot peels. This has been their diet for about two weeks and the larger ones poo has been hard and firm and the little ones has always been soft but today it was very runny will this be the current diet I am feeding them?

Just really after some newbie advice on how I can improve and how I should wash the eye if I feel it is swollen due to dirt?

Thank you in advance

Heres some links to the little guys
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...psaee3526c.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...psf6a0e7bb.jpg

http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6d9eb323.jpg

24-01-2015, 01:27 PM	#1
Ben Y Junior Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1	New owner of two Horsefield Tortoises Hello everyone, I have recently bought two 1 year old Horsefield Tortoises. Everything seems to be going fine but I just want to set my mind at rest due to a few things I've noticed. First of all, they both seem to get on with each other fine and cuddle up at night however I am unable to sex them at this time due to their age and size. If I were to guess I would say two males cause their tails are fairly long but that's just a guess. I know if they are one male and one female they'll need separating at an older age, is this the same for two males due to fighting or will they be fine. Another thing is one is a bit larger than the other. The smaller little chap is about 2 1/4" and the larger one 3 1/2" with a darker shell is this normal to have two tortoises the same age and such a different size gap and darker shell? The little guy seems to eat more than the bigger one and has been known to steal food from the larger one right out of his grasp. However I've noticed over the past two days some inconsistencies with the little guy. He appears to have a swollen eye I am pretty sure he's got some dust or dirt in it as he keeps scratching it. It's not majorly swollen as none of my family can see it. Also he has today done a fairly large runny poo. I am putting that down to the salad leafs I am feeding them as I am waiting for my weed seeds to grow. The salad leafs are lettuce (not iceberg) romaine lettuce I think, cabbage and some carrot peels. This has been their diet for about two weeks and the larger ones poo has been hard and firm and the little ones has always been soft but today it was very runny will this be the current diet I am feeding them? Just really after some newbie advice on how I can improve and how I should wash the eye if I feel it is swollen due to dirt? Thank you in advance Heres some links to the little guys http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...psaee3526c.jpg http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...psf6a0e7bb.jpg http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6d9eb323.jpg

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