Some advise for a newbie please??

[littletort]

Hello everyone im new to posting but ive been noseying at this site for several months now!! Anyway... after some advise from you lot as you seem to know sooooooo much I got my first spur thighed this year and he/she is great (the breeder says prob female due to temp eggs were incubated at), i really wish at the time i'd had the money to buy 2 but was wondering if it would be a big deal to put another in with her now (or in the near future anyway?) Ive read you cant keep different species together is that right?? so i would have to have another spur thighed not a hermans say?? also would it be a bad idea if they arent the same age? if i were to put a 2-3 year old with her for example?? Then the other question ive got is do males/females males/males females/females get on ok?? as i wont know for sure her sex for a while could i face problems?? any help would be great, if it all gets too comlicated i might just stick to the one ha ha

[Bindi]

It is not advisable to mix different species of tortoise because of differing environmental needs, differing behaviours and different sensitivity or resistance to disease organisms.

If you'd like to introduce another tort then it is advisable to have a quaranteen period during which you'll be able to monitor the new tort (for any illness or problems ) whilst it's settling in.

Torts can mask illness for a long time so a quaranteen period of at least 6 months would be advisable (the Tortoise Trust now recommend 18 months)

As far as torts getting on is concerned, I'm afraid there is no simple yes or no! Females are usually ok together, males can sometimes fight, and if you have one male to one female then the male's attentions can get too much for the female

So, in short, if you have more than one you need to be prepared to separate them if necessary, providing separate enclosures etc.

[EJ]

You'll find that this is one of those 'hot' topics... You can very successfully keep different species together. The more similar the requirements the easier the task.

There are keepers/collectors who like to pidgeon hole their keeps and that's all it is.

Species are a human concept and nothing more. Billions of species comingle in the wild.

You do have to be careful to minimize the risks which are found whether your charges are the same species or not.

All of your questions I would call risk factors. Each has it's own characteristic and risk.

Originally Posted by littletort

Hello everyone im new to posting but ive been noseying at this site for several months now!! Anyway... after some advise from you lot as you seem to know sooooooo much I got my first spur thighed this year and he/she is great (the breeder says prob female due to temp eggs were incubated at), i really wish at the time i'd had the money to buy 2 but was wondering if it would be a big deal to put another in with her now (or in the near future anyway?) Ive read you cant keep different species together is that right?? so i would have to have another spur thighed not a hermans say?? also would it be a bad idea if they arent the same age? if i were to put a 2-3 year old with her for example?? Then the other question ive got is do males/females males/males females/females get on ok?? as i wont know for sure her sex for a while could i face problems?? any help would be great, if it all gets too comlicated i might just stick to the one ha ha

[16 shells]

Originally Posted by EJ

You'll find that this is one of those 'hot' topics... You can very successfully keep different species together. The more similar the requirements the easier the task.

There are keepers/collectors who like to pidgeon hole their keeps and that's all it is.

Species are a human concept and nothing more. Billions of species comingle in the wild.

You do have to be careful to minimize the risks which are found whether your charges are the same species or not.

All of your questions I would call risk factors. Each has it's own characteristic and risk.

That is the fact's, one or three of the animals knowing the history could be less of a risk, of differant species, then introducing another of the same into a healthy large group, that's all risk's

[EJ]

I don't quite understand what you're trying to say.

Originally Posted by 16 shells

That is the fact's, one or three of the animals knowing the history could be less of a risk, of differant species, then introducing another of the same into a healthy large group, that's all risk's

[littletort]

Thanks for your help everyone, sounds like theres lots to consider!! not quite sure what you mean paul maybe you could clarify?? sounds like a lot of decisions are more to do with personal preference than what works and doesnt??!! still not sure what im going to do yet so not going to rush into anything yet.