Can Two Turtles Live Together? Pairs, Tank Mates and Tortoises

Two turtles can live together, but they don’t need to, and most do best alone. Turtles and tortoises aren’t social animals that get lonely. If you do keep a pair, they need much more space than one, matching sizes, separate basking and feeding spots, and the same species. Two adult males are the riskiest pairing.

The Merck Veterinary Manual puts it plainly: for reptile pets in general, the solitary animal is often the healthiest, and most aquatic turtles are best kept as single pets. So if you were thinking of a second turtle to keep the first one company, you can skip it with a clear conscience.

Do turtles get lonely?

No. Turtles and tortoises aren’t social animals, and they don’t need a companion to do well. ReptiFiles notes that a red-eared slider can live happily by itself, that painted turtles seem to do well alone, and that Russian tortoises aren’t a particularly social species and can be kept on their own without harm to their wellbeing. The Tortoise Protection Group says the same about tortoises in general.

What a turtle does notice is competition. Another turtle in the same tank means sharing the basking spot, the food and the hiding places. The Merck manual warns that animals sharing an enclosure compete for food, basking areas and retreats, and that bite injuries at feeding time are common when aquatic turtles are kept in groups.

Can two turtles live in the same tank?

They can, if the setup is built for two from the start. Here’s what the care sheets ask for:

For red-eared sliders, the extra 50% means two adults need about 150 gallons (570 L) of water. That’s more than most indoor tanks hold, which is why ReptiFiles points multi-turtle keepers toward a pond. The same space rule of thumb, about 10 gallons of water per inch of shell (38 L per 2.5 cm), applies to any growing aquatic turtle, so a pair that fits as babies won’t fit for long.

Two turtles also make more waste, so keep up with how often to change turtle water.

How to set up a tank for two turtles

• Match their sizes. ReptiFiles advises keeping only turtles of a similar size together. A much bigger turtle can bully a small one or take all the food.
• Give each one a basking spot. Either one extra-large basking area or two separate spots, each with heat and UVB, so neither turtle gets pushed off.
• Feed them apart, or watch every meal. Supervise feedings so each turtle eats its share. Feeding in a separate container also keeps the main tank cleaner, as VCA Animal Hospitals notes. For portions, see how often to feed a red-eared slider.
• Add places to get away. Plants, driftwood and hides break up sight lines so a turtle can get out of view of the other.

Can two male turtles live together?

This is the riskiest pairing. The Tortoise Trust describes male tortoises as territorial and warns that two males can fight badly enough to injure each other, so they should be kept separately. ReptiFiles says to avoid housing Russian tortoise males together, and the Tortoise Protection Group notes that two males may fight. If you’ve seen a male tortoise bob his head at another male, that’s often the opening of a dominance contest; why tortoises bob their heads explains what follows.

A male and a female aren’t a safe default either. A male may chase and harass a female over and over, and in a small enclosure that causes her stress and injuries, according to the Tortoise Trust. The British Chelonia Group advises keeping male and female Mediterranean tortoises apart, because a female who can’t get away from a courting male tends to eat less. A male and female together will also most likely produce eggs, as ReptiFiles points out.

Two females avoid the courtship problem, but they still compete for food and basking spots, so the setup rules above apply.

Can two tortoises live together?

Yes, with the same rules, and tortoise keepers add a few of their own:

• Same species only. The Tortoise Trust, the Tortoise Protection Group and the Merck manual all say never to mix species.
• Keep groups small. The British Chelonia Group suggests no more than five tortoises of a single species per group.
• Don’t overcrowd. Every tortoise needs room to walk away and hide. For Russian tortoises, two adults need at least about 34.5 sq ft (3.2 m²) by ReptiFiles’ numbers.
• Don’t put an older female with a young male. The Tortoise Trust calls this extremely risky and advises against it.
• Don’t let your tortoise “visit” a friend’s. Meetings between tortoises from different homes spread disease, according to both the Tortoise Trust and the Tortoise Protection Group.

Can turtles and tortoises live together?

No. A turtle and a tortoise are different species with different needs: one lives mostly in water, the other on dry land, with different temperatures, humidity and food. The Merck manual says different species from different places must not be mixed, and that ideally each enclosure holds only one species. Chris Tabaka, DVM, writing for the Tortoise Trust, goes further: never mix species, under any circumstances. The Tortoise Protection Group gives the reasons, the risk of disease and of injury from different behaviors.

The same goes for two different kinds of aquatic turtle, such as a slider and a musk turtle.

Can turtles live with fish?

Usually not as true tank mates. Aquatic turtles like sliders are omnivores that eat fish, and any fish small enough to fit in a turtle’s mouth will eventually become a snack. ReptiFiles even lists small livebearers, like guppies, platies and mollies, as feeder fish for red-eared sliders.

If you want fish in the tank, think of them as food, not companions:

• Pick fish that are safe to eat. ReptiFiles lists guppies, mollies, platies, swordtails, endlers and mosquito fish as safe feeders.
• Don’t stock goldfish or rosy red minnows. ReptiFiles puts them on its unsafe list because they contain thiaminase, which breaks down vitamin B1 when eaten often. An occasional goldfish as a treat is fine.

ReptiFiles does mention compatible live fish as enrichment for painted turtles, but in a typical indoor tank, expect any fish to be eaten sooner or later.

How to introduce a new turtle

If you’ve decided on a second turtle, take it slowly:

1. Quarantine the newcomer. Keep it in its own setup, ideally in another room, before the two ever meet. The Merck manual and ReptiFiles recommend 3–6 months for reptiles. Tortoise keepers often go longer: the Tortoise Trust and the Tortoise Protection Group both say at least six months.
2. Use separate equipment. Give the new turtle its own nets, tongs and cleaning tools, care for it last, and wash your hands between enclosures, as ReptiFiles advises.
3. Book a vet check. A reptile vet can examine the new turtle during quarantine. ReptiFiles suggests a fecal test at a minimum.
4. Watch closely for the first few weeks, especially at feeding time.

Keeping each turtle’s meals and weight in its own log makes it easy to see if one isn’t getting its share. You can add each turtle separately in ShellPal.

When to separate two turtles

Have a spare tank or pen ready before you put two turtles together. The Tortoise Protection Group says to be prepared to separate a pair, and it’s much easier if the second setup already exists. Separate them if you see:

• Biting at legs, tails, heads or shell edges
• One turtle chasing, ramming or climbing on the other again and again
• One turtle always kept off the basking spot or away from food
• One turtle hiding all the time, or eating less than before
• One turtle losing weight while the other gains

Once they’re apart, see a reptile vet if either turtle has a bite wound, a cracked or damaged shell, swelling, or keeps eating less, so the injury can be cleaned and checked properly.

The short version

A single turtle won’t be lonely, and it’s the simplest and often the healthiest way to keep one. If you want two, choose the same species and a similar size, avoid two adult males, give them at least 50% more space plus a basking and feeding spot each, quarantine the newcomer for months, and keep a backup enclosure ready. Turtles with tortoises, or with small fish, don’t work as roommates.

Sources

• Management and husbandry of reptiles (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• Management of reptiles (Merck Veterinary Manual)
• Red-eared slider tank size (ReptiFiles)
• Painted turtle care sheet (ReptiFiles)
• Eastern box turtle care sheet (ReptiFiles)
• Russian tortoise care sheet (ReptiFiles)
• Red-eared slider food (ReptiFiles)
• Turtles: aquatic housing (VCA Animal Hospitals)
• How to quarantine reptiles (ReptiFiles)
• Basic care of Mediterranean tortoises (A. C. Highfield, Tortoise Trust)
• Tortoises as companions (A. C. Highfield, Tortoise Trust)
• Rules for keeping tortoises healthy (Chris Tabaka, DVM, Tortoise Trust)
• Tortoise frequently asked questions (Tortoise Protection Group)
• Care sheet for Mediterranean tortoises (British Chelonia Group)