Female herman and male Spur thighed

[francesc]

I have recently taken on a male spur thighed tortoise from an unwanted home. I already have a female Herman and need to know if it is a problem to mix the two species. They are around the same age 6/7 but he is considerably bigger than her. He is already exhibiting what I believe to be courting rituals. Will this cause a danger to my Herman (Daisy). I do not particularly wish to get involved in breeding! Any advice please!

[XoxOriptideOxoX]

dont mix torts, take 1 of them out

[helen2]

The male ibera could cause untold damage to the hermanns girl with his butting...their shells are not as thick...also the mating "mechanism" differs so again damage could occur...please seperate them and make them different enclosures....both should be outside at this age..

[terrypin]

Originally Posted by francesc

I have recently taken on a male spur thighed tortoise from an unwanted home. I already have a female Herman and need to know if it is a problem to mix the two species. They are around the same age 6/7 but he is considerably bigger than her. He is already exhibiting what I believe to be courting rituals. Will this cause a danger to my Herman (Daisy). I do not particularly wish to get involved in breeding! Any advice please!

hi an adult male spurthighed and a female hermans must be one of the most potentially lethal conbinations you can have .certainly in the long term i personally have knowledge of 2 cases and both ended with the death of the hermans female.male spurthighed will batter the female into submission as part of their courtship ritual whereas hermans nip at the females legs to make her lift them and this immobilises her for long enough so he can get in position to have his wicked way.for this reason hermans shells dont need to be as thick and unfortunately cant withstand this battering over an extended period,hermans scales tend to be tougher to withstand the biteing so equally the spruthigh will become injured should you have a male hermans and a female spurthighed.
terry

[XoxOriptideOxoX]

Originally Posted by helen2

The male ibera could cause untold damage to the hermanns girl with his butting...their shells are not as thick...also the mating "mechanism" differs so again damage could occur...please seperate them and make them different enclosures....both should be outside at this age..

unless its to cold, ooo but then agian you could have a heater =p

[tortoise_dude]

I had a male hermanns that was kept with a spur and his shell rot was horrific. He had other injuries too- an absess on his tail from where he had been bitten. Here are a few pics to demonstrate the damage;


and also the treatment he had to have for his shellrot;

[gtm]

As above - Spur Thigh's are much tougher customers than theie Hermanni cousins. Keep them apart if possible.