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Old 20-08-2015, 08:36 AM   #1
suttysue
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Default Fighting Females !

Hi can anyone advise me please.?
I have taken on a female Horsefield who has turned out to be quite a bully. I am told she had lived by herself for quite a while and that she is about 15 yrs old. However after a quiet start she has begun to really bully my other two females ie bang ing shells really hard and biting. I also have a male who she seems to leave alone mind you he is small compared to her.
Could this behaviour be just a domination thing to become top female?
Thanks for reading
Sue
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Old 20-08-2015, 09:40 AM   #2
sandy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by suttysue View Post
Hi can anyone advise me please.?
I have taken on a female Horsefield who has turned out to be quite a bully. I am told she had lived by herself for quite a while and that she is about 15 yrs old. However after a quiet start she has begun to really bully my other two females ie bang ing shells really hard and biting. I also have a male who she seems to leave alone mind you he is small compared to her.
Could this behaviour be just a domination thing to become top female?
Thanks for reading
Sue

Sounds like she is fighting for alpha female, which can happen when a new tortoise is introduced to a group.
The shell banging is not a problem for them, but biting can draw blood, so needs to be kept an eye on. If they have a big enough space then they should be able to get away from each other, and the fighting lessens. If they havent then it will go on until she has found her place in the pecking order.
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Old 20-08-2015, 09:40 AM   #3
alley cat
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It could be Sue or it could be that she is wanting to mate, if she has been living alone and hasn't had that opportunity then she may be frustrated, I have a female who does this, she has never laid any eggs (I think the males avoid her cos she's moody!)
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Old 20-08-2015, 11:16 AM   #4
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I've got 8 female horsfields and introduced little one 3 years ago. Very daunting for her as she was quite small but she doesn't take any nonsense. I have two that bash and ram each other and the others just get out of their way. Keep an eye as Sandy says because Horsfields tend to be aggressive biters on occasion and when one of my boys bit one of the girls she has lived with an abscess for years due to the bit. it is natural behaviour if this one has been on her own as Alley cat says, but needs monitoring as she settles.
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