Shelled Warriors Forums
 

Go Back   Shelled Warriors Forums > Tortoise Information > Mediterranean Tortoises - Information & Questions

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-02-2012, 12:54 PM   #1
BirdieF18
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 198
Question 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.
__________________
Three cats-Mitzi, Tilly, Luna
Two dogs-Cara, Brodie
Two Horses-Ruby, Murfy
One budgie-Poppy
One Horsfield Tortoise-Pumpkin
One Nosy Ankarea Panther Chameleon-Boggles
BirdieF18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:25 PM   #2
Gordon
Senior Member
Adult
 
Gordon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 5,672
Default

Not sure about the playing but mine do seem happier when they are together seems like a good reason to get anotherone but just be aware they might not get on how old is yours
Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:29 PM   #3
BirdieF18
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 198
Default

Mine is 4 years old almost 5.
__________________
Three cats-Mitzi, Tilly, Luna
Two dogs-Cara, Brodie
Two Horses-Ruby, Murfy
One budgie-Poppy
One Horsfield Tortoise-Pumpkin
One Nosy Ankarea Panther Chameleon-Boggles
BirdieF18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:38 PM   #4
Rowan
Senior Member
Sub Adult
 
Rowan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Posts: 1,703
Default

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
Rowan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:40 PM   #5
BirdieF18
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 198
Default

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
__________________
Three cats-Mitzi, Tilly, Luna
Two dogs-Cara, Brodie
Two Horses-Ruby, Murfy
One budgie-Poppy
One Horsfield Tortoise-Pumpkin
One Nosy Ankarea Panther Chameleon-Boggles
BirdieF18 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:45 PM   #6
Rowan
Senior Member
Sub Adult
 
Rowan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Posts: 1,703
Default

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
Rowan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 01:50 PM   #7
Rowan
Senior Member
Sub Adult
 
Rowan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Posts: 1,703
Default

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
Rowan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2012, 02:01 PM   #8
Gordon
Senior Member
Adult
 
Gordon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 5,672
Default

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
Gordon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-02-2012, 09:55 PM   #9
Nellie and Morla
Member
Incubating
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 165
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by BirdieF18 View Post
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
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'.
__________________
Owners of:
2 Horsfield tortoises, Nellie (male) and Morla (female)
1 female axolotl, Algie
1 male Noseby panther chameleon
2 White's tree frogs, Lilly (female) and Rollie (male)
1 hypotranslucent smoothie chilli red female bearded dragon, Blaze
Nellie and Morla is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-02-2012, 10:44 PM   #10
EJ
Senior Member
Adult
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 8,277
Default

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.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BirdieF18 View Post
Hello i have a horsfield tortoise and i was just wandering would she benefit from having a playmate with her inside her enclosure.
Thanks.
__________________
Ed
Tortoise Keerpers @
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers
and
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Last edited by EJ; 16-02-2012 at 05:06 AM.
EJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
companion, enclosure, friend, playmate


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:08 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.