Do Sulcata Tortoises Need Companions?

Do Sulcata Tortoises Need Companions?

Unlike some tortoises, sulcata tortoises do not need companions and are best kept solitary. They do not NEED a friend. Although, they MAY tolerate one, human emotions, like sad and happy, do not apply to tortoises. Your sulcata is not sad that he’s alone and will not be happier with a friend.

Groups of Sulcata Tortoises

Although, this doesn’t mean that they need to be or should be, sulcata tortoises are often kept in groups. By housing them in groups of three or more, the stress of bullying is shared among the group versus from one more dominant tortoise to the more submissive tortoise.

If you feel like you can care for more than one large, adult sulcata, you want to have a trio of females or one male and two females. Avoid multiple males in one living space. Males can become quite aggressive toward each other.

Even though you can house multiple sulcata tortoises together, sulcata tortoises do not need companions.

Sulcata Tortoise Bullying

Sulcata tortoises are solitary tortoises. They can be quite territorial about their space. When keeping multiple tortoises, you may see bullying.

Signs of bullying in tortoises can be very subtle or they can be quite obvious.

  • Sleeping or resting together
  • Eating together
  • Pushing
  • Ramming
  • Biting
  • Pursuing/chasing
  • Mounting

When sulcata tortoises eat, sleep or bask together, they aren’t necessarily being friendly. One is trying to get the best piece of grass or lettuce. One is trying to get the warmest spot. These are signs of mental bullying.

Bullying does not always come in the form of physical abuse, like biting or mounting.

bullying in sulcata tortoises