Cockatiels and Tortoises?...

[edwob]

I started thinking about maybe getting a tortoise as a pet, but first I want to make sure that the tortoise and my cockatiel at least have a chance of getting along. (I do have 3 cats currently with my cockatiel, and I managed to teach the cats to leave the bird alone. And obviously I never leave the bird outside her cage with the cats around.) But does anyone here have any experience with tortoises and birds? Or any advice about it?

[Marrie]

Tortoises are not exactly predator animals (herbivores that sometimes eat bugs), so I wouldn't think that would be an issue. Only thing I would worry about is the safety issues - tiel not burning themselves on the UV lamp, making sure to keep the areas clean so any germs the tortoise carries would not spread to the tiel, etc.

[Naava]

I would imagine the tortoise wouldn't care one way or another! The bird, of course, might find him/her facinating, but the tortoise really couldn't harm him. The only thing I would be worried about was the bird getting hurt from the heat lamp ect. as Marrie mentioned above. Or the bird perching on the tortoise and annoying the bejiebies out of him!

[DesertDweller]

Being a reptile and avian rehabber, I know that it is dangerous to keep birds near reptiles. They are pathologically incompatible. Meaning, the bacteria of reptiles can cause serious diseases in birds. I just gave away my 7 year old iguana because I didn't want my birds to accidentally go near his cage. I raised the iguana since he was a baby. The iguana never came out and had a huge enclosure. It's the birds who travel around my home that I worry about.

I am licensed to maintain desert tortoises and I had a 2,000 square foot pen for turtles and tortoises. I also traveled all over the valley teaching childrens groups about reptiles.

I've also assisted Fish & Wildlife rehab birds. I used to advise veterinarians on medication dosages for birds.

I've got years of experience with both reptiles and birds.

Never, never, never house birds and reptiles together.