i have a male herman and i have a spur thigh which i think is male would you put a female with them

Hi Lorraine,

It isn't a good idea to mix species at all.

The spike on the tail of a Hermanns can damage a spur-thigh. Likewise Hermanns tortoises don't butt and so aren't built to withstand a butting Spur-thigh. We've seen many Hermanns that have sustained massive damage to their shell from a butting Spur-Thighed tortoise.

Also different species carry different organisms which won't pose any danger to the tortoise or like species, but can be life-threatening to other species of tortoise.

Before considering adding a female, which could pose an even greater risk, I'd recommend you look to separate the two you currently have and then quarantine them before considering adding another tortoise, which would also need a period of quarantine.

HTH
Darren

Keeping on the subject if I were to get another male hermanns to go in with JD (an 8 yr old hermanns) would this be recommended or a bad idea? and if its ok what age range would be good?

Hi,

Whilst some males do happily co-habit with one another - there is always a risk they won't get along and will literally try and drive the other male away in case a female happens to drop in. This could potentially be very stressful for either of both of the males living in a restricted area and never being able to entirely escape the agressor.

HTH
Darren

Ok thankyou, so if in the future I did decide to get JD some friends, what would be a good thing to do, I know not to put 1 female in with him as I've been advised about that before, so what about 2 females? This wont be for a while I just want to get my facts right before I consider anything :)

Its usually recommended that 3 females to one male is the ideal ratio!

Vivienne