Tegus and turtles?

CRG · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject: Tegus and turtles?

Im thinking about adopting two adult russian tortoise. Before I do Im wondering if I have an outdoor enclosure that is 8ft by 8ft would I be able to also keep my tegu out there on nice warm days in summer? Would they pretty much just ignore each other?

GuinnyOne · Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 37

Well, all it would take is one bite in the wrong place and you won't have a russian. My iguanas will sneak in and sleep with my russians. But iguanas are herbivores. I wouldn't chance it. If it were a larger tortoise with more defenses, ie. thicker hide and heavy horny, scaled skin...it would likely be possible. But chelonians would not react quickly enough or move fast enough to get away from a tegu. Just my thoughts. kelly

MO · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:09 pm Post subject:

I agree. I have a small redfoot and put it outside with my beardie but would never let an adult tegu near it! Why chance it?

CRG · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks....Thats fine I can make a seperate enclosure, I was just kinda hoping to keep it simple....But I still havent decided whether or not to take them yet anyway....

Mostly I asked cause I saw a picture of a black throat monitor that was kept with several tortoise...At least it looked that way to me...

CRG · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:45 pm Post subject:

Here is the pic see the turtles in the back of his cage?Or is are those balls?
Either way its a really cool pic

tupinambis · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:16 pm Post subject:

In Brazil, some of our pens have tegus and turtles together. Contrary to what most people seem to think, turtles are not slow. Try grabbing the head of one. Anyhow, normally the tegus seemed rather oblivious towards the turtles and usually didn't cause any problems. However, if you're trying to breed the turtles/tortoises as well, it isn't going to happen. The tegus would normally go for the eggs even before they were fully out of the cloaca of the turtles.

GuinnyOne · Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 37

Those are box turtles of some sort. Which would be reasonable...sort of. Because box turtles, when threatened, can totally enclose themselves within the safety of their shells.

I don't necessarily consider turtles and torts *slow* as far as their abilities to retract their heads, or even make a short stint run for it....but compared to a tegu, they are slow.

The difference between keeping box turtles with a tegu, and russians with a tegu: russians cannot pull their head or leg in far enough to prevent a tegu with a mission from tearing them apart.

I guess you could try it. But in my mind, the negatives far outweigh any benefits of trying something like this.
Kelly

GuinnyOne · Member Joined: Nov 07, 2005 Posts: 37

"I guess you could try it. But in my mind, the negatives far outweigh any benefits of trying something like this."

I should add
wish this particular species. i.e. russians.

CRG · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 8:53 am Post subject:

Like I said in my previous post its not a big deal to build a separate pen in my yard. I wont be keeping them together since it might be dangerous to the torts...But I did like the pic of the blackthroat, he is so Jurassic park...

DeadIrishD · Honored Member Joined: Jun 07, 2005 Posts: 265

Thats a black throat? :-/ always thought they looked similiar too Savs

drfish · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

Yeah, a blackthroat is a monitor, and isn't green.

And yeah, very similar looking to Sav's.

CRG · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject:

If thats not a blackthroat what is it? Because it sure looks green to me.It was advertised as a blackthroat.

RainbowParty · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:52 pm Post subject:

i think it looks green because there is a green light on it, it looks to me, because if you look at the wall its leaning on, it looks as though its green ish as well, which can only be explained by a green light. thats how i perceive it.
-chris

CRG · Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:25 pm Post subject:

Your absolutely right...I see the green on the edge of the board .Very observant I completely missed that...