I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break.... I am looking for advice with my tort plans in the spring and have a'new spanner in the works'. This morning my fears that my girl Peta is a boy were realised when for the first time 'her' tail adopted the 'boy' stance. Ok I love him to bits but already have a boy who is four years older than him. I have read about territorial rights and my question is how to keep multiple males happy. The outdoor development planned is an area where I can provide a shelter with lights and a 'pit' for hibernation purposes. Initially this was to have a section for male Pebble so he could be separated during the summer when the girls needed peace. Do males get on reasonably well together..... I am not sure how I could cope with aggression. Any suggestions would be gratefully received and considered x x hugs x x

Hi Stellanne

Hope you had a lovely xmas.. My understanding is that as long as there are a few females around having 2 males shouldn't be a problem..I may be wrong however I have seen others have more than 2 boys.. This may mean that you will have to get some more females!!! he he xx

If these are hermans, you only get problems when they have females around. As two males might fight for alpha position, but once that is done, they can get on ok, especially with more space. Introduce females and they can do a lot of damage to each other.
If ibera, well I keep two males with six females and I dont have any problems with them. They have the run of the garden, so have quite a lot of space. Even when in the greenhouse, I dont have problems with males fighting. Just the males mating with females:0)

Yes these are hermans... They will have a lot of space to roam. With the passing of Michelle a few weeks ago and this mornings revelations the boy/ girl balance has seriously been tipped to boy overload. I shall be getting some girls n the spring..... Or maybe before if I can locate a couple. Thinking I need some older girl torts!!!! X x x hugs x x x

hi im in total agreement with Sandy space is what is needed,i keep 3 males with 9 females and on occasion see a little combat.very little problem between the two smaller /younger males but my dominant male will attack them if provoked particularly if he is approached when courting one of his females.most combat is short and involves the younger male beating a hasty retreat.provided there is adequate space and enough females for the youngster to get a chance with the ladies things should run smoothly.

Thanks terry.... Yes space is no issue... I can easily make the area I planned to develop bigger, I worry about giving them free roam of the garden even though there is fencing to 6 inches below ground level. Though there seems a lot of thinking time, we all know how time flies x x x hugs x.

Hiya, well I must be extremely lucky as I have 3 definite males, 3 definite females and two possible females and I have had NO problems with males, the only time I have is when I bought another male in last year and it was only a problem because he caused problems - he would butt/bite the other males - mainly Frank, they would try to get away and very rarely retaliated. Everytime when I've introduced new torts into the group - whether male or female they have always got on, apart from the one already mentioned. Frank (who was my first tort/male) has always excepted new additions bless him. Maybe this will change, but for now it seems to work. I have to say though that now I have perfect harmony I would be very reluctant to change the group

Can I ask, when you say that Petas tail took the male stance do you mean that you actually saw the 'willy' come out of the tail?

I have had my suspicions for a month or so..... His tail was beginning to get bigger .... By that I mean stumpier and longer. This last week the end has been touching the soil in his run. Yesterday he had tucked it to one side. X x. Hugs x x

stellanne, have you seen Peta with his willy out or are you just going by the size of the tail.Could you take a pic of the tail and lety us all have a look?.....tiggy

Hi Tiggy... Just really going on the size of the tail. Not seen anything else... Will do the photos tomorrow. Are you ok.... Not heard much from you recently x x x hugs x x