Reptile & Amphibian Forums

is it possible to house box turtles with a russian tort?

Probably not a good idea...these species have dissimilar in requirements, the box's preferring overall greater humidity and the higher protien food, the Russians drier and vegetarian diet only. Further, Russians can be very cantankerous, stressing out the Box's with unwanted biting, chasing, mating attempts. Russians may harbor disease/virus that are asymptomatic,i.e. herpes, it is not obvious they have it but your box turtle might contract it. Russians are active and sometimes ornery, Box's tend to be shy and retiring, I think high potential for them to be "bullied" by the Russian. I would not do it...it's possible with a big enough enclosure, but I am reluctant to mix species. I see no advantages and plenty of risk...

No its not really a good idea. Russians like low humidity with higher temps. Box turtles like humidity up in the 80's. Also diseases would be the most scariest thing. Russians can give the box turtle a disease theat the box turlte wont be able to fight off since they nver encounter it. Vise versa the other way around. If you do house them together its very likly that one or the other will die or get very sick. Best thing is just dont do it.

Beautiful response...

>>Probably not a good idea...these species have dissimilar in requirements, the box's preferring overall greater humidity and the higher protien food, the Russians drier and vegetarian diet only. Further, Russians can be very cantankerous, stressing out the Box's with unwanted biting, chasing, mating attempts. Russians may harbor disease/virus that are asymptomatic,i.e. herpes, it is not obvious they have it but your box turtle might contract it. Russians are active and sometimes ornery, Box's tend to be shy and retiring, I think high potential for them to be "bullied" by the Russian. I would not do it...it's possible with a big enough enclosure, but I am reluctant to mix species. I see no advantages and plenty of risk...
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Ed @ Tortoise Keepers
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Russians have herpes? lol

A little joke? Herpes outbreak I witnessed in a very long term (12-13yrs.?) desert tortoise, no known exposures to carriers. It was dreadful, with a dramatic and creeping mass of sores on the tortoises head, oral cavity, throat, resulting in tube feeding and extensive vet care (with limited efficacy...) I probably should have referred to A. horsefieldi rather than Russians...anyway, try hard to avoid this dreadful malady said to me commonly associated with A. horsefieldi.

>>A little joke? Herpes outbreak I witnessed in a very long term (12-13yrs.?) desert tortoise, no known exposures to carriers. It was dreadful, with a dramatic and creeping mass of sores on the tortoises head, oral cavity, throat, resulting in tube feeding and extensive vet care (with limited efficacy...) I probably should have referred to A. horsefieldi rather than Russians...anyway, try hard to avoid this dreadful malady said to me commonly associated with A. horsefieldi.

I've read for years that A. horsefieldi carries herpes but you are the first person I've "met" who's actually witnessed it any tortoise species.
Did the tortoise not live? Was there no medication to help? I know antibiotics would be useless but I've often pondered the idea of whether or not these newer interferon drugs or any type of antiviral/antiherpes drugs for humans would help.
Sorry it happened.
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PHRatz

Dear PhRatz, I do not know the fate or treatment regime for this unfortunate California Desert Tortoise. It just had this dramatic and devastating herpes outbreak. Its owner is very fastidious, would not allow other tortoises on the property, we were both blown away at this unfortunate event, as she was so careful/selective. I will give her a call and find out what happened. Last I heard is that a feeding tube was "installed" and things were not going well... Also, there was no known exposure to Russians or any other tortoise, the source is a mystery except it must/may have been there all along. Vic

>>Dear PhRatz, I do not know the fate or treatment regime for this unfortunate California Desert Tortoise. It just had this dramatic and devastating herpes outbreak. Its owner is very fastidious, would not allow other tortoises on the property, we were both blown away at this unfortunate event, as she was so careful/selective. I will give her a call and find out what happened. Last I heard is that a feeding tube was "installed" and things were not going well... Also, there was no known exposure to Russians or any other tortoise, the source is a mystery except it must/may have been there all along. Vic

Oh ok I mistunderstood, I thought the tortoise had belonged to you. From what you've stated here though I'd agree that it sounds like the virus was there all along then one day it reared it's ugly head.
This happens a lot in pet rat keeping, they can harbor diseases that only affect them without symptoms for a long time then something, who knows what, will happen and the disease suddenly makes them sick. I see this often in rats, there's no reason to think this doesn't happen with other animal species (humans too) but I'm sure it's been a heartbreaking thing to see in something as regal as a desert tortoise. What a shame for that poor tortoise.
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PHRatz

ok, thanks for all the info.