|
|
|
Dogs Cats Birds Snakes Reptiles & Amphibians Spiders & Insects Equestrian Other Pets Fish Retailers |
THIS FORUM IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO INNACTIVITY
We invite you to join the NEW Reptiles & Amphibians Forum HERE
|
Viewed: 647 -- Replies: 15 |
| Posted | mix of tortoise species ... |
| 21-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | Hey all,
Having been given very bad advice three years ago from a local pet shop I bought 2 african hingebacks and 2 leopard tortoises to be housed together. They are housed in a big viv with UV lighting, heat spots etc. during the cold seasons and as soon as it is warm, they go into a garden enclosure. One (a leopard) died very early on .. I don't think it fared well during the exportation. The others are growing well, feeding well and look very healthy and content. One problem is that these two species have different needs - and although they are all healthy and happy, I can't help feeling that i'm not giving them the best environment that they deserve. But the main problem I have daily is that since tortoises are notoriously hard to sex, I was given two male hingebacks. Since they have come into maturity this year, they seem to do nothing but fight each other or mount each other (sometimes even head to toe!!)- this inevitably ends up with one on his back - which is never good for too long. I'm wondering if anyone has a female hingeback to swap or sell for my leopard tortoise so that I have a trio of hingebacks. Or if anyone would like the two hingbacks and has a couple of young leopards to swap. This is quite hard for me as I have two young children (also for swaps if anyone's that interested...), and we've all grown attached to Sam and Sung (hingebacks) and Nok (leopard) .. any guesses on the female leopard's name ...? I have lovely pictures of all of my little darlings - any help, advice, barter or genius ideas are gratefully received! Gaynor |
| 21-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | here are the pics ... |
| 23-10-2006 by jessica | u can keep these species ok together... |
| 23-10-2006 by jessica | however how much u wanting to sell these torts? |
| 23-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | Good morning Jessica
Thanks for your reply. I'm not so worried about how much I can sell my hingebacks for - it's more important to know that they will be looked after properly and cared for well in general. They spend lots of time outside on warm sunny days, so I worm them regularly etc... i'd like them to go to someone who's willing to do the same. However, I suppose I'd like enough for the both of them so that I don't have to dip into the echo chamber that is my bank account in order to buy a female leopard. I've tried downloading a pic here, but the pics are too big. I can email you some if you wish. |
| 24-10-2006 by Darren | Hi Can I just point out that hingebacked tortoises (which ever speices) and leopard tortoises can't be housed together at all ever.
They both have different dietry needs leopards grow huge hingebacks don't so leopards are bested housed in heated open topped enclosure sometimes refered to as tortoise tables . Again hingebacks sexual mature around 6-8inches and when they do males are extremeley aggressive to each other and towards females, a leopard tortoise would inflict some terrible wounds from a amourous randy territorial hingeback. Also each species carry there own mirco cultches that can easily pass to each other causeing either or both respiratory problems and parasite burdens . I could go on a great deal more but this is a quick basic reply .please don't house these animls together. |
| 25-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | Darren,
Thanks for your valued advice. As I said in my earlier post - I was given some bad advice from the start. Both species are checked regularly by a reputable vet and all three have been fine for the past three years. At the moment the leopard tortoise is small and immature(about 5 inches). Whilst I can appreciate that the hingebacks are indeed quite agressive in maturation - they both seem to leave the leopard tortoise alone. However, your valid points are noted, but please appreciate that the points you raise are exactly the reasons I posted here in the first place. |
| 25-10-2006 by jessica | soz darren, seems like ive been given bad advice myself then, my email address is reptile-world@hotmail.co.uk if you wanna email the pics  spose it really depends on individual tortoises as you said gaynor, if they were aggressive towards eachother im sure you would have split them up by gaynor sometimes things are different to just doing things professionally, there needs to be a bit of heart in there too, I think you have the best interests at heart   |
| 25-10-2006 by jessica | *split them up by now |
| 25-10-2006 by swinnk8 | hey dudes,the tortoise trust gives good advice on the housing of these species.it might be a better idea to contact them.
They also have tortoise to rehome so you may find a female there. By the way darren you are giving the correct advice.i personally have spoke to the tortoise trust in the past about the correct housing of both species.all tortoises if possible are best in a table top enclosure with spot heating as they tend to get respiratory infections easily in enclosed viviariums. |
| 26-10-2006 by jessica | number, website, or email address of tortoise trust would help? |
| 26-10-2006 by swinnk8 | www.tortoisetrust.org |
| 27-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | Thanks Jessica for your empathic response! Swinnk - I'm speaking to the tortoise trust at the moment ... after Darren's post I was a bit reluctant to contact them for fear of arrest on neglect charges  but they were very helpful. I've purchased another viv and have now split the two species up (although I swear they're sending messages over to each other in bottles!) That way until I find a good home for the hingebacks - the leopard will be assured safety from amorous hignebacks!
Thanks again |
| 27-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | *hignebacks
|
| 27-10-2006 by Gaynor Richards | God, sorry ... HINGEBACKS! |
| 12-01-2007 by jessica | Lol its ok Gaynor.. sometimes people on here begin to think too much about 'The written way' to keep animals and not actually focus on personal experience or the actual INDIVIDUALS. Ive found out alot of interesting things from simply focusing on my animals as individuals. |
THIS FORUM IS NOW CLOSED DUE TO INNACTIVITY
We invite you to join the NEW Reptiles & Amphibians Forum HERE
|
|
|
Dogs Cats Birds Snakes & Reptiles Spiders & Insects Equestrian Other Pets Fish Retailers Wanted |
|
|
 |
