Male like behavior from one of my torts

[JoesMum]

That's an interesting fact about the mosquitos on the carapace/plastron.
It's dumb question time.
Do they actually get blood from the carapace or plastrons?

Absolutely not. Their proboscis is designed to pierce skin not shell. A mosquito can land on, but not bite into - let alone bite through - the shell.

They're attracted to warm blooded mammals by the carbon dioxide they exhale. As torts are cold blooded reptiles and further defended by scales, mosquitoes are not a problem to them.

And that photo does not show a tort being bitten through its shell.

 

[Anyfoot]

Absolutely not. Their proboscis is designed to pierce skin not shell. A mosquito can land on, but not bite into - let alone bite through - the shell.

They're attracted to warm blooded mammals by the carbon dioxide they exhale. As torts are cold blooded reptiles and further defended by scales, mosquitoes are not a problem to them.

Makes sense, but had to ask regardless of humiliation.lol. So the dumb mosquitos are just trying their luck.

 

[JoesMum]

Makes sense, but had to ask regardless of humiliation.lol. So the dumb mosquitos are just trying their luck.

The mosquitos landed. They're not even trying. That's just what a mosquito looks like

Heaven help us if mosquitos developed big and strong enough to drill through a tort's shell!

 

[Anyfoot]

The mosquitos landed. They're not even trying. That's just what a mosquito looks like

Heaven help us if mosquitos developed big and strong enough to drill through a tort's shell!

I've seen it in films, they can break glass. Lol
Actually I was thinking maybe they were getting other nutrients off the surface of the torts.

 

[JoesMum]

I've seen it in films, they can break glass. Lol
Actually I was thinking maybe they were getting other nutrients off the surface of the torts.

Well, male mosquitoes don't suck blood I think; they're nectar eaters. On a red foot there may be some sugary fruity stuff stuck to the shell after they've walked through their dinner.

 

[allegraf]

I don't know if they are being bitten through the shell, but around this time of year, the mosquitoes tend to gather in large numbers (10-50) on the shells. The torts also seem to be more itchy.

 

[Anyfoot]

Wow, glad we don't have to deal with mosquitos.

 

[Redstrike]

Cherry Pie is a tough one... I'm on the fence and hoping you get the male you're rallying for.

 

[Octavious22]

Lol JoesMum