forest hinged back and three toed box

Question
I currently have 2 female three toed box turtles.  My friend is giving away 1 male three toed box turtle and a female forest hinged back tortoise that currently are living in the same enclosure. Can the two types live together? I was going to take them but need more info on the forest hinged back. My turtles have been together for 14 years.

Answer
It is not a good idea to house these together for a couple of reasons.

First- and rather moot at this point- is that it is generally not a good idea to house animals from different continents together. Diseases that are a minor annoyance to one can kill the other, etc. If they have been together for a while, this may be less critical, but most experts would say it is still an issue.

Next, and more importantly to me- different habitat needs. Hingebacks like high temps and HIGH humidity- they thrive at nearly 100% with frequent simulated rains with temps pushing 90F. 3 Toes don't like that combination- they can handle one or the other usually, but don't like both.

Diet can be similar, but not alike. Hingebacks also have a reputation as being difficult.

For more on the Hingeback, try
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/ckinixys.html or
http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/Kinixysscare.htm or
http://www.geocities.com/hiramtom/tortindex.html