Why do his hind legs go in and out?!?

[pzowt]

Here is a video of my Russian tortoise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARL-zPuYM8

after I feed him, I noticed he does this a lot
his hind legs go in and out and I'm curious to know why
Is it bad? What's happening?

 

[Utah Lynn]

Here is a video of my Russian tortoise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARL-zPuYM8

after I feed him, I noticed he does this a lot
his hind legs go in and out and I'm curious to know why
Is it bad? What's happening?

I'm fairly new at this also; but I think it's just natural from breathing.

 

[jhigh81]

Here is a video of my Russian tortoise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARL-zPuYM8

after I feed him, I noticed he does this a lot
his hind legs go in and out and I'm curious to know why
Is it bad? What's happening?

I dont know the exact reason, but mine does that too. When he sees me in the morning he does that with all his legs and his head. I like to think it is cause he is excited to see me and get his breakfast. But I dont know the real reason.

 

[Mao Senpai]

That's just them breathing. When their lungs expand and contract... their arms and legs and head goes in an out. Its more noticeably on a younger tort as their shell hasn't grown fully yet but can still be seen with older ones as well.

 

[Grigor.Love.]

As previously stated, breathing.

 

[pzowt]

Thanks!
I wasn't sure if I should start worrying

 

[JoesMum]

Worry if it stops! It's definitely breathing!

 

[babylove6635]

Here is a video of my Russian tortoise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qARL-zPuYM8

after I feed him, I noticed he does this a lot
his hind legs go in and out and I'm curious to know why
Is it bad? What's happening?

I'm fairly new at this also; but I think it's just natural from breathing.

hey lyn can i see the video of your torts. it needs a sighn in and pass word

 

[dmarcus]

I tried to check it out and it's private..

 

[Madkins007]

Tortoises cannot move their ribcages or diaphragms to breathe, so they 'sag' their limbs in and out. They don't need a lot of air so you don't always notice it.

Another related behavior is throat pumping. If you see it fill and empty its throat with air several times, it is smelling the air. This is how it moves the air past the scent receptors in the nose.