My tortoise is an idiot...

TammyJ said:

I am actually almost positive that they are not being helpful...but maybe I am just cynical in my old age!

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No....you just have good insight....helpful, likely not so much....lol. I use to keep a CDT in a space that allowed it access to all kinds of "office stuff" during the night...this tort would climb up on a printer...don't know how...and he would wait there and then leap off....super like trying to off itself...and it will to this day climb to the top of any high spot and just "walk off" the edge...super stupid...still alive, still seeking to be the Evil Knieval of the CDT world....i just try to offer ways him to save himself as much as possible....

Perhaps you have an Evil Knievel of the modern day....? I am so spelling that wrong, apology.

The tortoise is just being active. Just like humans running on a threadmill going nowhere

Yeah he's just working out in his home gym.

Well, at least he’s not trampling and eating them

seanang168 said:

The tortoise is just being active. Just like humans running on a threadmill going nowhere

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Now here is a good comparison on intelligence for sure...both are silly and not a great gauge of smarts....LOL>....

Trudy also likes to climb her flower pots and plants, but she's much bigger, so she just ends up knocking them over and sitting on top of them. lol She also likes to pick up the pots in her mouth and dump them out. That's why she just has empty pots now and not plants.

So cute
Mine tries to always squeeze through tiny gaps and gets stuck when she hasn’t realised her shell is too big. Then will kick around for ages with back legs like something out of a cartoon when they run on the spot !

tortoisekev said:

I've posted a couple of times recently about how much my tortoise seems to want to climb over or up everything - his pot, the plants, even up the walls. It doesn't appear to be because he's trying to get out necessarily, and I have been partially reassured reading other people's similar experiences.

Anyway, I thought I'd add to my post count and provide you with something entertaining to watch! 2 short videos of my tortoise being a bit of an idiot!

Video 1: My Tortoise Thinks He's Spiderman!

Video 2: Tortoise Time Lapse

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OMG! ❤️ this is awesome!

Oh my goodness!!!
I can’t stop laughing

Looks like it’s time for a much bigger enclosure. One with hills and peaks and valleys. A tortoise can rite themselves easier when the terrain isn’t completely flat also. And you want to make sure that there’s not stuff around so if he falls off of it he ends up right directly under the heat lamp.
What equipment do you use for the camera? I’ve always wanted to do a time lapse video and see what my animals do all day when I’m at work. But I don’t know how to do it.

Madkins007 said:

Climbing- many tortoise species pretty much live on hillsides, and a lot of species LOVE to clamber. My redfoots amazed me when I made them a big outdoor pen with a big brush pile and they immediately climbed up inside that thing. I strongly think that any good tortoise habitat should include lots of uneven ground or climbing opportunities- although that means that we as keepers and designers have to work harder to keep them safe and secure.

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I agree. My guys LOVE to climb and clamber. My outdoor enclosure has lots of good climbing available but I've tried several times to create safe indoor climbing and I haven't been successful. It's either just lame or they aren't into my idea. Have you created such a thing? Can you make suggestions or even post pics? Thanks!

great videos!

LOL. This is just too funny.

tortoisekev said:

I've posted a couple of times recently about how much my tortoise seems to want to climb over or up everything - his pot, the plants, even up the walls. It doesn't appear to be because he's trying to get out necessarily, and I have been partially reassured reading other people's similar experiences.

Anyway, I thought I'd add to my post count and provide you with something entertaining to watch! 2 short videos of my tortoise being a bit of an idiot!

Video 1: My Tortoise Thinks He's Spiderman!

Video 2: Tortoise Time Lapse

Click to expand...

The second movie is hilarious!

leigti said:

Looks like it’s time for a much bigger enclosure. One with hills and peaks and valleys. A tortoise can rite themselves easier when the terrain isn’t completely flat also. And you want to make sure that there’s not stuff around so if he falls off of it he ends up right directly under the heat lamp.
What equipment do you use for the camera? I’ve always wanted to do a time lapse video and see what my animals do all day when I’m at work. But I don’t know how to do it.

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Outdoor enclosure coming in the summer. Bigger indoor enclosure coming in the first half of the year(need to do a custom build)

Camera: NEST Indoor Camera.

I have a couple of Nest cameras (in and outdoor) and they’re very good both for home security and as a tort cam! I have a home office so I can occasionally check in on him during the day via the camera to make sure he’s not upside down!

Having moved things around and away from the edges, and removing a couple of the plants means he hasn’t fallen over that much since (only once or twice).

I have done a few peaks and troughs, but as someone commented - he doesn’t always have the same intentions for your plans as you do! I do keep changing things up a bit to keep it interesting.

Where he slept last night [emoji23]



Using a hill and fence to try and escape

ps: if you want to see more of his pics then he has an Instagram! @tortoisekev

tortoisekev said:

Having moved things around and away from the edges, and removing a couple of the plants means he hasn’t fallen over that much since (only once or twice).

I have done a few peaks and troughs, but as someone commented - he doesn’t always have the same intentions for your plans as you do! I do keep changing things up a bit to keep it interesting.

Where he slept last night [emoji23]

View attachment 262889

Using a hill and fence to try and escape

View attachment 262890

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Gorgeous!

Great videos and I like your enclosure!