what is going wrong with my tortoise!

[seazer]

Hi im Charles and this is my first post here after coming across this group.

i have two horsefields torts that i have had for three years now. i bought them at separate times. One is Terry one is Shelly.

at the end of last year i took them to London vet college for a check up to find out they are both boys. also i got told i was feeding them too much good food by the bet and they were growing quickly? so we have been changing their diet and giving them treats (fruit and bits)

we had them separated for a while due to them fighting however we bathed them together which was fine.

we have moved back home to save to buy our own place and today i converted my parents shed to hold the torts.

they have been in there for an hour and Terry was chasing Shelly attacking him. i really want to keep them together as they used to get on so well. will they get used to each other or will they fight to the death?

their new table is 600mm x 1825mm with a sand/soil bed.

thanks a lot

Charles

[Jan W]

Charles
I am responding so that your question appears on todays posts, as when you are new it takes a day to get the first posts live.

It sounds as though you have two little fighters, but I cannot provide the best advice for you so will leave to others.

[CherryBrandy]

welcome Charles, ive had Horsfields for over 25 years and if they start fighting they are likely to continue in my experience, especially the boys. they reach an age of maturity. If you don't want them to be anxious around each other or suffer some severe bites (they bite harder and nastier than other torts - sometimes right through the neck) then you will need to consider separating them I am afraid. Best for the tortoise. CB

[emma_mcraf]

Firstly, welcome to the forum, Charles. I think CB is right and it's time to split them before one gets hurt, plus it must be pretty stressful for them. It's a shame but sometimes there's no other choice. All four of my males live separately.

[Finsky]

Originally Posted by seazer

at the end of last year i took them to London vet college for a check up to find out they are both boys. also i got told i was feeding them too much good food by the bet and they were growing quickly? so we have been changing their diet and giving them treats (fruit and bits)
Charles

Just out of curiosity...when you said 'too much good food'..what was it that you were giving them or was it literally too much in quantity?
I have Horsefield 'lad'...or should I say 'thug' I think you might still have to tweak your tortoises diet. I might be wrong...but what I've read from many Horsefield information sources, they should be on 'weeds' only diet as too 'rich/sugary' food can cause tummy issues.
I hate to be bearer of bad news..but better be safe than sorry....

[Suze65]

I am also curious as to what you were told not to give them, and how much you were told to give them. If they are hungry, feed them. And I wouldn't give them any fruit, too sugary. Weeds and flowers, off the right sort, and you really can't over feed on weeds and flowers. Have a look on here http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp for information about do's and don't's of feeding .

[CherryBrandy]

And Horsfields can fight over food like no other tortoise i've seen. literally take chunks out of each other for certain food so lots of variety weeds ideal

[Blueginger1984]

I was in the same situation as you. I thought I had 2 girls, turned out I had 2 boys. I ended up separating them as my shy boy was bullied, bitten, poor little guy couldn't even eat without being attacked, so he'd give up trying and I'd have to take the other male out so the little guy could eat in peace.

My boys are perfectly happy now they live alone.