Rocky rubs like a cat

Hey guys, been a while, so rocky is still going strong. Getting big. Has attitude. Today he did something strange. I am well aware tortoises to not like their rear messed with and they do a booty dance, well as I was squatting down in his pen out side to give him water, I filled up his water tub and had poured what little was left onto his back. I guess he didn't like it because he started rubbing and semi booty dancing along my leg. Walked back around and rubbed from his shoulder to his rear under my own booty and effectively dried himself off on my butt. What is up with this? Is he being mean? Its hot out here in NC right now, his eyes were watery. I thought the water would be nice.

I think he was enjoying the sensation and was trying to rub it into his shell.

Lol I can just imagine what that must've looked like [emoji28]

Their shells are actually very sensitive. I have brush heads bolted to the inside of my pen at shell height because my tortoises sometimes like to stop and scratch an itch.
It's very funny to see it.

ZEROPILOT said:

I have brush heads bolted to the inside of my pen at shell height because my tortoises sometimes like to stop and scratch an itch.
It's very funny to see it.

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That’s funny. Sounds like you got the hook up!!

Joshualee67 said:

That’s funny. Sounds like you got the hook up!!

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It's a self hookup area.

Make sure you provide lots of shade and that your water source is ways full, clean and not in the sun.
Redfoot get overheated easily and they like to climb into the water to cool off.
Summer in the south can be too hot for these shade lovers.

ZEROPILOT said:

Their shells are actually very sensitive. I have brush heads bolted to the inside of my pen at shell height because my tortoises sometimes like to stop and scratch an itch.
It's very funny to see it.

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Could you post a pic of your self scrub area? Sounds great, I'd like to try that.

He's got plenty of shade and all that. He is a weirdo lately. He has always liked his head scratched especially if he's shedding and little pieces pop off under my fingernails, I imagine that has to be itchy. He never really responded to me rubbing his shell before even though I always do. It was just so weird, he was nearly walking sideways to press his butt on my leg and walk by. He stopped for a second to shimmy then came around shoulder first on my rear.

LaLaP said:

Could you post a pic of your self scrub area? Sounds great, I'd like to try that.

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In my video on YOUTUBE:
REDFOOT HABITAT FLORIDA STYLE
You can see two female Redfoot visiting a brush right at the end of the video.

Weda737 said:

He's got plenty of shade and all that. He is a weirdo lately. He has always liked his head scratched especially if he's shedding and little pieces pop off under my fingernails, I imagine that has to be itchy. He never really responded to me rubbing his shell before even though I always do. It was just so weird, he was nearly walking sideways to press his butt on my leg and walk by. He stopped for a second to shimmy then came around shoulder first on my rear.

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I briefly had a large Male RF that had been owned by an elderly lady that spent most of her time touching and holding him.
It took me a few months to make sure he was healthy and to find him a retirement home of his own with lots of lady torts.
In that time, I witnessed behavior that I can only describe as "cat like".
He liked to rub against me and he'd stick out his neck for scratches. He really seemed to enjoy it. And got very excited whenever I was nearby. But unlike any other tortoise before or since.

Rocky never seemed the affectionate type. Lately he's been acting out of character. Silly little things, he's being a booger. I don't know if he's missing me because I work 3rd shift now or what. I was starting to think he thought of me as an annoyance. Just the other day I let him loose to roam my field and when I walked up to him he just kinda meandered for a minute then shot for the tall grass and plowed through it. He has never liked tall grass and actively avoids it. He's been a turd lately. I grabbed him up and put him back in his pen for that naughtiness.

I did bring him a handful of carrots today and rubbed his shell while he ate. As soon as I touched him he plopped down. Almost like it was a comfort come to think of it. Maybe I'm crazy, but I know they are intelligent and in my observation it is the intelligent species who tend to be affectionate.