My guy will come up to our feet and just start bobbing his head at our toes. It is like he has a toe fetish. He never bites. It is like he is happy, making a friend. What do you all think?
She also just started pushing our feet like she is trying to go through us
Tom said:This is a classic sign of tortoise aggression, dominance and territoriality. I am astounded that anyone would think of this as a "happy" or friendly gesture...
Krisowen said:That makes sense about it being how they communicate. That was what I was thinking. I also have a green cheek conjure bird that likes to walk the floor. She bobs her head at the bird too. I caught her snuggled up to my bird once sleeping. I think she just likes to snuggle and is looking for a friend. When my bird started to pace back and forth in front of her, my bird was peaking under a door, I could see the bite coming. I think she just wanted her to sit still. LOL
She let go instantly when I yelled no and touched her head.
She bobs all the time, never bites at our feet ever. She like to sit by our feet. She just bobs her head like she is having fun, no other aggression. They all must have different personalities. She slept all winter in my closet. It is pushing 90 here now so she is up. I am glad she made it though the first winter with me. I rescued her from a little old lady last fall who spoiled her. She was going into a assisted care facility and couldn't take her. I have not had her long. But she has a wonderful personality. A real sweetheart.
Just to be clear, she stays outside all day long. We have a large yard that is completely secure for her. She just sleeps inside.
tortoise_man1 said:Yes, well this may be true, my tortoise only does it when I am head level with her and she only bobs her head if I bob my head first
Tom said:Nothing will make them stop. Its just their nature and hormones. The best thing is to just understand it and work around it.
Tom said:Russians will sometimes bite their rivals. CDTs usually don't. Seldom do tortoises bite to show aggression. They show aggression with posture, position, chasing, ramming, flipping and HEAD BOBBING!
Your warm fuzzy feelings are misguided in this case. Sorry.
Krisowen said:I do think that she is excited. It looks like she is trying to make friends or in love with our feet to be honest. She would have bitten if not and my toes are directly next to her mouth when she is sitting, sometimes touching her face. Her neck is relaxed, it looks like her version of a dance. Her head is about half way out and her neck is not stretched straight, it has a slight bend. Like she is trying to communicate with our toes. It is big up and down movements. She will purposely come up to our feet and then start moving her head up and down then she stops. If we respond by wiggling our toes up and down then she responds with more head movement. It goes back and forth like she is communicating with us. Maybe she is mimicking us.She also has just started pushing into us after she has been out running around a while and wants our attention. I am thinking it is because she is tired and wants us to carry her inside to bed. It is the same behavior she will do as she pushes up against something to sleep. Maybe it is like, be still so I can push against you and sleep. She does like to sleep near my feet on the couch so maybe she does it just to try to go to sleep but we keep moving. I have not come to a formal conclusion on it yet. She just started it, no biting though but I am hoping that is not aggression beginning.
Tortoises do not engage in mirror behavior
Tortoises don't play or bond
they're very interesting animals!