Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I would appreciate any help/ advice from other Russian Tortoise keepers.
I have two delightful Russians that I have kept for around 18mths now...who give me no end of fun. When I first took them to the vets for a check up before Christmas I was told the larger was around 3 1/2 years old.... the smaller around 1 1/2 years old. The larger is obviously a male having become very sexually active last summer and over the last few weeks has begun again.. flashing constantly and chasing the little un around desperate to mate. I often pull him/ her aside? but they then go searching out the older one so I presume they cant be too stressed even despite the larger one nipping etc all the time. This week though I walked in to find the larger one with the whole of the smaller ones front foot in his mouth and the baby looking stressed. And for a few days the little un wouldnt come out or eat?
Does anyone know whether I should now keep these apart? Can the younger one get hurt/ depressed by this rough attempt at sex... can I do anything to subdue the larger ones appetite? and can I guess that the younger one is probably female for all the attention it is getting?
Id appreciate any help..

Ta, Steph.

Offer some visual barriers like plants, logs or rocks and see what happens. This usually reduces the encounters.

>>Hi,
>>I would appreciate any help/ advice from other Russian Tortoise keepers.
>>I have two delightful Russians that I have kept for around 18mths now...who give me no end of fun. When I first took them to the vets for a check up before Christmas I was told the larger was around 3 1/2 years old.... the smaller around 1 1/2 years old. The larger is obviously a male having become very sexually active last summer and over the last few weeks has begun again.. flashing constantly and chasing the little un around desperate to mate. I often pull him/ her aside? but they then go searching out the older one so I presume they cant be too stressed even despite the larger one nipping etc all the time. This week though I walked in to find the larger one with the whole of the smaller ones front foot in his mouth and the baby looking stressed. And for a few days the little un wouldnt come out or eat?
>>Does anyone know whether I should now keep these apart? Can the younger one get hurt/ depressed by this rough attempt at sex... can I do anything to subdue the larger ones appetite? and can I guess that the younger one is probably female for all the attention it is getting?
>>Id appreciate any help..
>>
>>Ta, Steph.
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

you could subdivide the encloture or place one in another encloture or you can introduce more females for the male to chase. this whould split the sexual load between the females.
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1.1.3 Common Mud Turtles
0.0.2 R.E.S.
0.0.1 Map Turtle
1.2 Russian Tortoises
0.2.1 Box Turtles
1.0 Hamsters
3.0 Dogs
2.3 Family

Dear Steph, It is quite likely your little one is under a lot of stress, and can not avoid it. Male horsefieldi are usually amorous and always cantankerous. Their incessant attacks may force the smaller animal into excessive hiding, restricting its feeding and basking opportunity. I think you should separate them or make very clever visual barriers, terraces etc. like EJ suggested. I try to mix my males with much larger females, even then the females are often on the run. Biting can get out of hand, resulting in ripped foreleg guard scales, bleeding faces etc. Dean Shoefeit, an accomplished breeder showed me a good trick when dealing with breeding attempts. Place a thin veneer of duct tape on the females forelegs, leaving a flap so the males will focus on attacking that and minimizing damage to the female. It worked well for me one season, but they are less nasty this season. I hope your little one can get some peaceful days in the Sun, and not be forced into eternal retreat... Good luck, Vic

Hi all,
thankyou for the advice...

in respect of one of my other questions, do you think that given all the attention - my litttle un is female?
I have read that tortoises which become sexually mature will practice on male or female.... but I just thought they would be more likely to give such incessant attention to a female?
her/ his tail also looks slightly different to the males though I have also read that it is impossible to sex them at an early age.

Steph.