Need help on database and store

I have 1.3.6 currently for my site. I have downloaded and am testing out 1.3.8 on a test server currently. I am tweaking the format a bit. Question is this: can I use the same database for 2 sites since the test site won't yield any new orders? I have tried creating a new database for the test store and then uploading a backup of the live store's database but my I'm having issues timing out on that (have a call into my host about it). I don't want to try it and screw up my live store so I thought I would ask here

Each ZC install needs it's own database to insure there's no conflicts. Only takes a secont to create another database, though.

that's what I figured. I tried doing that and uploading my backup but it didn't work. Hopefully my host can help or I'll have to really start from scratch:(

Make sure to check that your new db has the same prefixes as the old db.