Mixing breeds in same tortoise table?

Valerie · 28-02-2009, 04:30 PM

Is it possible to have more than one breed in the same table? I have a Testudo Hermanii Hermanii and thinking of also getting a marginated???

welshlass22 · 28-02-2009, 04:37 PM

Um i don't think it's recommended because of mixed breeds such as having a male and female together and different dietry and housing requirements......

Hopefully somone else will come along though who can say more....

kimmerz · 28-02-2009, 04:58 PM

no you never mix breeds, the most common reasons are enviorment because the breeds may need different enviroments. diet they may need different foods. breeding when they are older they may use different ways of breeding like some bash shells were some I think have a simple head bob. diseases one species may be a carrier of a disease, it does not effect itself or others of the same species but it could kill another species.

Ozric Jonathan · 28-02-2009, 09:04 PM

This extract is from an article on the Tortoise Trust website

" Maybe the most important factor that speaks against mixing different kinds of turtles and tortoises is the risk of cross infection. Chelonians naturally harbors many organisms that, while not posing any danger to the carrying animal, might be lethal to an individual of another species. This risk, according to some, is especially large when the species in question originate from different parts of the world, while the risk is said to diminish (but not disappear) if the animals in question are captive bred and raised"

Whilst both tortoises Valerie mentions are Testudos they don't encounter each other in nature and I think they wouldn't have the same immunity to different organisms.

I'm personally against mixing subspecies in an enclosure as well because the way I see it if there could be a risk then why would we expect the tortoises to take that chance.

In the longer term your marginated would get a lot larger than your Hermanni Hermanni and this might happen quickly.

**Eire_Ade** · 01-03-2009, 11:03 AM

Hi Valarie,

I keep 2 diferent sub species of Testudo Graeca in the same table BUT have a divider between them so that they never meet or get cross contaminated.

They share the same lamp which is hung over the divide.

So long as you keep tortoises with the same heat requirements this works ok.

I also don't believe in mixing species in the same enclosure for the risks mentioned already and possible mating creating cross breeds also.

Hermans and Marginateds do have similar requirements temps and feeding etc... So a shared but divided table would work.

If you look http://www.postimage.org/gx1ayfj9-2b...0831de7ad9.jpg in the housing section you will see what I mean.

I hope this helps you.

EJ · 01-03-2009, 01:37 PM

I'd suggest posting this to as many different lists as you can... you'll find the opinion is as varied as the lists.

If your talking captive bred animals from the start... I don't see a problem. Size may become an issue but that's not a certianty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valerie

Is it possible to have more than one breed in the same table? I have a Testudo Hermanii Hermanii and thinking of also getting a marginated???

Ozric Jonathan · 01-03-2009, 05:50 PM

I see Ed's still busy causing as much irritation and confusion on as many different forums as he can at any one time.

EJ · 01-03-2009, 06:07 PM

Sombodys gotta provide a rational opinion... I seem to have missed in my post where I tried to start anything... wouldn't have even replied here had it not been for the personal nature of the post I'm answering...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozric Jonathan

I see Ed's still busy causing as much irritation and confusion on as many different forums as he can at any one time.

Paulg1 · 01-03-2009, 06:10 PM

It boggles my mind how a difference of opinion always seems to become personal attacks. Isn't the point of this site to put out as much info so that we can make informed intelligent decisions?

Lou · 01-03-2009, 06:27 PM

valerie... there was a post by ed a couple of weeks ago with a hatch of cross bred torts... ed can possibly direct you better... personally i would not, however this is only due to lack of experience with this kind of thing...

i also don't see where Ed was causing an issue... only putting a point across ? maybe I missed something...

28-02-2009, 04:30 PM	#1
Valerie Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 461	Mixing breeds in same tortoise table? Is it possible to have more than one breed in the same table? I have a Testudo Hermanii Hermanii and thinking of also getting a marginated??? __________________ 1 Testudo Hermanni Hermanni 1 Dog Yorkshire Terrier x Patterdale Terrier 6 Dwarf lop ear rabbits 5 fish

28-02-2009, 04:37 PM	#2
welshlass22 Senior Member Adult Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cardiff Posts: 2,260	Um i don't think it's recommended because of mixed breeds such as having a male and female together and different dietry and housing requirements...... Hopefully somone else will come along though who can say more.... __________________ Joanna

28-02-2009, 04:58 PM	#3
kimmerz Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 1,279	no you never mix breeds, the most common reasons are enviorment because the breeds may need different enviroments. diet they may need different foods. breeding when they are older they may use different ways of breeding like some bash shells were some I think have a simple head bob. diseases one species may be a carrier of a disease, it does not effect itself or others of the same species but it could kill another species. __________________ 7 hermanns-Paris, Turbo, Pumba, Dave, Izzy, Miami and Zippy. 2 reds- Tommy and Elliot

28-02-2009, 09:04 PM	#4
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	This extract is from an article on the Tortoise Trust website " Maybe the most important factor that speaks against mixing different kinds of turtles and tortoises is the risk of cross infection. Chelonians naturally harbors many organisms that, while not posing any danger to the carrying animal, might be lethal to an individual of another species. This risk, according to some, is especially large when the species in question originate from different parts of the world, while the risk is said to diminish (but not disappear) if the animals in question are captive bred and raised" Whilst both tortoises Valerie mentions are Testudos they don't encounter each other in nature and I think they wouldn't have the same immunity to different organisms. I'm personally against mixing subspecies in an enclosure as well because the way I see it if there could be a risk then why would we expect the tortoises to take that chance. In the longer term your marginated would get a lot larger than your Hermanni Hermanni and this might happen quickly. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

01-03-2009, 11:03 AM	#5
Eire_Ade Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8,422	Hi Valarie, I keep 2 diferent sub species of Testudo Graeca in the same table BUT have a divider between them so that they never meet or get cross contaminated. They share the same lamp which is hung over the divide. So long as you keep tortoises with the same heat requirements this works ok. I also don't believe in mixing species in the same enclosure for the risks mentioned already and possible mating creating cross breeds also. Hermans and Marginateds do have similar requirements temps and feeding etc... So a shared but divided table would work. If you look http://www.postimage.org/gx1ayfj9-2b...0831de7ad9.jpg in the housing section you will see what I mean. I hope this helps you. __________________ Ade ----------------------------------------------- Y.O.B 1971 (40 years young! ) My Tortoises :- Dug (Testudo Graeca Ibera Terrestris (Syrian), Penny, JJ (JennyJack), Buttons and Gem (Testudo Graeca Ibera)

01-03-2009, 05:50 PM	#7
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	I see Ed's still busy causing as much irritation and confusion on as many different forums as he can at any one time. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

01-03-2009, 06:10 PM	#9
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	It boggles my mind how a difference of opinion always seems to become personal attacks. Isn't the point of this site to put out as much info so that we can make informed intelligent decisions? __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

01-03-2009, 06:27 PM	#10
Lou Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wigan - Greater Manchester Posts: 1,172	valerie... there was a post by ed a couple of weeks ago with a hatch of cross bred torts... ed can possibly direct you better... personally i would not, however this is only due to lack of experience with this kind of thing... i also don't see where Ed was causing an issue... only putting a point across ? maybe I missed something... __________________ Louise... Horsfield: 1.0.2 Walter / Izzy / Tilly Redfoot : 1.3.0 Ruby / Scarlet / Merlot / Ginger Goldfish : 0:0:1 Splodge Bearded Dragon : 0:1:0 Zuki Springer Spaniel : 1:0:0 Bailey

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