Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have an adult leapord tortoise and am thinking about getting another tortoise. I am considering a baby redfoot. My leapord grazes in the yard all summer, not a specific tortoise enclosere but a very secure yard (so I guess its one big tortoise enclosure!). The new tortoise will not have any contact with the big leapord until it gets large enough to go in the yard (maybe 6" or so) so I know I will have no problems for a few years at least. I am worried about mixing the two species in the yard, for disease and general compatability issues. It is a big yard but they will surely have some sort of contact. Durring the winter they will likely be seperated but they may be together in our heated greenhouse (with a nice warm heated floor). Basically what I want to know is whether or not redfoots and leapords will be ok together outside durring the summer, and possibly durring the winter.
-Thanks
-Ian

odds are that they would probably ignore each other.

You do got to keep in mind that RFs are very disease tolerant and Leopards are not.
-----
Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Do you mean that the redfoots would be less likely to catch something from the leapord but the leapord would be at a greater risk because of exposure to the other tortoises (the redfoots may carry something that they are not affected by, but the leapord may be greatly affected by what the redfoot's carry)?. In reality isnt the risk of disese for the leapord just as great if she was exposed to any other tortoise (even another leapord) that was sick (in which case it wouldnt really matter if the species were mixed, it would matter more that there is more that one tortoise in the group).
Thanks for the info!
-Ian

A leopard would be as much at risk if it was exposed to any sick tortoise... you're right there.

The point I was making is that Redfoots seem to be way more tolerant of various 'bugs'. So, they don't always show any real symptoms.

On the other hand, Leopards seem to get sick at the drop of a hat.

Another point is that it's really funny that some are saying they come from totally different habitats. From the photo records I have they come from very similar habitats although they do have different habits.

The bottom line is that I don't think it would be a good idea although you probably could get away with it if you took every precaution you could.
-----
Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

These two tortoises are from two completely different ecosystems! Why would you even consider putting them together? Redfoot's need an environment (read: damp) that will kill your Leopard. Get another Lepoard or a Sulcatta. At least that way you have species from the same general environment.

I agree and am aware that the redfoots need much more humidity, the problem is is that I live in saint louis MO, and if youve ever been here youd hate it! The humidity is almost unbearable in the summer (its something like flordia) so the redffots should love it! I have had the leapord for 8 years or so and she has done very well outside durring the summer, anyway it wouldn't be possible to have less humidity to please the leapord. The tortoises would be fed seperately (the leapord mostle grazes on grass and such) so the leapord wouldnt eat the redfoots fruit. I have really had mixed opinions on this subject, some say it will be ok (but isn't reccomended) and some say its just a bad idea. We will see soon I guess.
-Ian

I kept the two species together in a large yard years ago and they ignored each other. They do have different requirements though and as a general rule mixing species is not a good idea.

...why not make him/her their own quarters? it might be more work for you but at least they don't have to suffers, also bear in mind you have to quarantine the new one (s) anyway so you might just as well do it all at once

The redfoots are babys (maybe 3" so they wont be going outside unsupervised for a while (maybe a year or so) so quarenteening them isnt an issue. For the winter the leapord stays in its own room and the redffots will have a 200 gal, avuarium as their palace. I hope by time they are large enough to go outside I will have built a nice area for both. Im just presenting a hypothetical situation anyway.
-Ian

...this could be your own piece of paradise