Alternatives to neutering? (Too horny to eat)

jockma

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My RF’s hormones have gone into overdrive. He recently had a few bouts of illness so now that he is feeling better I assume he’s making up for lost time. He will not eat for hours because he’s prowling for things to mount. He paces around and masturbates with anything he can get his hands on. When he does eat, he eats very little before running off again to masturbate. He ate a LOT at the vet, but when he’s at home, all he wants to do is masturbate. I assume because this is his “territory”?

He’s also become “aggressive” (as aggressive as RFs can be, anyway) and chases me. I have to feed him then run and hide or he will ignore food to chase me. I do not feed him in his enclosure because I’m concerned about food particles rotting and attracting roaches, he will not eat in his enclosure anyway. I keep my kitchen immaculate so he can eat in there without 1. ingesting anything he’s not supposed to and 2. finding something to masturbate with and ignore his food. Surprise, he still masturbates! He has used the rug (now removed), the corner of the fridge, the small space underneath the cabinets, everything!

I have heard of hormone injections for tortoises that are too horny to eat, but I don’t know if it’s permanent. I cannot get any females for him at this time because I’m only living in this area temporarily and do not have room for multiple adult RFs. I also really hope to have him sire a pack of RFs in the future when I’m back to my permanent housing location so complete sterilization is not ideal for me (but will be done if necessary). Any alternatives to doing something risky or permanent? I’m really at my wits end, I’m waking up to him clucking all night and worrying about him not eating all day.
 

jockma

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I know! I’m sending audio clips of him clucking while humping every single thing in his path to friends and we’re all laughing because it IS funny, but at the same time I want him to eat his food and let me sleep at night!

It also hurts my feelings when he chases me. I miss the sweet prepubescent tortoise he used to be.
 

LaLaP

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Oh please, please share a video with us!

This is how parents of teenagers feel.

I hope it is a phase.
 

Redfool

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I acquired a sub adult male RF that I added to my 1:3:0 pen. At feeding time he would head bob and want to mate with all three females. By the time he ended his display and found out he could not mount any of the three because he was too small and not concave enough, all the food would be gone. We would then look at me as if to ask “when’s the food coming?” He would be totally ignored by the others. Teenagers hormones LOL
 

cdmay

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Oh I'm laughing so hard!
I'm sorry to laugh at your hardship. I hope you find a solution.
... but it's pretty funny...

This is a serious subject LaLaP....so words like ‘hardship’ just exacerbate things.
Come to think of it, I probably shouldn’t say ‘exacerbate’ either!
 

jsheffield

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Best thing I've read on the internet this morning!

My initial giggle arose from trying to picture tortoise masturbation ... #shortarms #trexsyndrome #cannotreach

Once I got past that though, it occured to me that a tort's hormonal drives could seriously get in the way of his daily living activities ... you might have to feed one separately in a non-stimulating environment ... luckily they can go a long time without eating if necessary.

Good luck and thanks for the giggles (and mental images ... #brainbleach )

Jamie
 

MysticCaribou

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I'm so sorry. This must be just as frustrating for you as it is for him. I hope there's a less permeant solution to this and things quiet down substantially.
 

Cheryl Hills

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Best thing I've read on the internet this morning!

My initial giggle arose from trying to picture tortoise masturbation ... #shortarms #trexsyndrome #cannotreach

Once I got past that though, it occured to me that a tort's hormonal drives could seriously get in the way of his daily living activities ... you might have to feed one separately in a non-stimulating environment ... luckily they can go a long time without eating if necessary.

Good luck and thanks for the giggles (and mental images ... #brainbleach )

Jamie
This is as bad as tortoise porn ! :)
 

ascott

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My RF’s hormones have gone into overdrive. He recently had a few bouts of illness so now that he is feeling better I assume he’s making up for lost time. He will not eat for hours because he’s prowling for things to mount. He paces around and masturbates with anything he can get his hands on. When he does eat, he eats very little before running off again to masturbate. He ate a LOT at the vet, but when he’s at home, all he wants to do is masturbate. I assume because this is his “territory”?

He’s also become “aggressive” (as aggressive as RFs can be, anyway) and chases me. I have to feed him then run and hide or he will ignore food to chase me. I do not feed him in his enclosure because I’m concerned about food particles rotting and attracting roaches, he will not eat in his enclosure anyway. I keep my kitchen immaculate so he can eat in there without 1. ingesting anything he’s not supposed to and 2. finding something to masturbate with and ignore his food. Surprise, he still masturbates! He has used the rug (now removed), the corner of the fridge, the small space underneath the cabinets, everything!

I have heard of hormone injections for tortoises that are too horny to eat, but I don’t know if it’s permanent. I cannot get any females for him at this time because I’m only living in this area temporarily and do not have room for multiple adult RFs. I also really hope to have him sire a pack of RFs in the future when I’m back to my permanent housing location so complete sterilization is not ideal for me (but will be done if necessary). Any alternatives to doing something risky or permanent? I’m really at my wits end, I’m waking up to him clucking all night and worrying about him not eating all day.

After a few smiles here.....just take a breath....the tortoise is simply going through maturing phase. It is a male tortoise, growing up to play the role he was created to participate in. Procreate at all cost and as much as physically possible. Male and female have their roles and tenacity is a key factor for the male.

The tortoise chasing after you should not be of concern, unless you are bare toed :)

Once you allow the tortoise free run of your house (the larger space than their enclosure) it is super hard for you to then expect the tortoise to be calm and settled when you place them back into a smaller space (their enclosure) and I know folks do this because they are trying to be nice ...but that is a reasoning skill and a tortoise does not agree...once they hit a larger space, they want more and their pacing/walking drive seems to kick in more once this freedom is introduced...so I would suggest that if you are limiting the tort right now to living in an indoor enclosure...you refrain from letting the tort run around in your kitchen.

As with many young males....once the relationship develops between male and his penis...the drive to procreate happens. This desire is not a choice....it is in control. It is not a bad thing, it is a drive that is super strong and continues as such for some time. I would offer up some places in the tortoise enclosure that offers up places for the tortoise to "exercise" that drive...not roll over obstacles but perhaps some flatter smooth tortoise size rocks....a turned over smooth feeding dish, etc. Also offer a place for the tort to soak in shallow water to cool himself as well as offering up a place to well soak his goods.

I am confused at why you would ever consider sterilizing a reptile? I mean, you have 100% control in confining the tortoise. I would never promote castration of a tortoise (except for physically damaged penis or constant prolapse). If you don't want to share life with a male and all his glory then perhaps you steer more towards a female...however, females come with their own host of issues as well :) I personally am okay with the males....food, fun, rest, scrap once in awhile if pressed by another male and then repeat---super reliable.... :)
 

jockma

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Hahaha, so many funny replies this morning!

@ascott Truth is, the only problem I have with this (and the reason I asked about sterilization) is because I’m worried he will become more and more malnourished from refusing food to masturbate. I’m the most worried tortoise parent in existence. I’m the type to frantically pace around and hyperventilate when his poop is 2% runnier than normal. He JUST got over a horrible flagellate issue with renal complications, so right now my nerves are through the roof and I’m desperate to make sure he gets enough nutrition. If this is normal and fine...then I’ll accept it. But I still really wish he would eat like he used to.

I feed him in the kitchen because he is more likely to eat in the kitchen, and I’m deathly afraid of roaches. I can try setting up a feeding area in his enclosure that is easier to clean, but I predict I’ll take him out when he refuses to eat because I get so worried. His enclosure is 5’x7’.

I’ve heard of some people giving their tort a “live-in girlfriend”, like a spare tire or maybe a single Croc shoe from the thrift store. Maybe both Crocs if he’s feeling polygamous. Has anyone tried that before? Did it help?

Glad my pain and suffering has entertained you all! Bean’s clucking away right now. His current fling: a polished stone.
 

daniellenc

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I wish my teenage son ate less with hormonal influxes lol. I have no advice and my guy is only 1.5 years old so no experience yet.
 

jockma

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Your tort will not starve himself. He will eat. They can go a very long time without eating.

Spoke too soon. He just ate his weight in dandelion, squash and swiss chard. :D

He’s too full to be horny now. Just lounging around in his enclosure. It’ll be just like old times until the testosterone kicks in again.
 

ascott

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Just turn on some Marvin Gaye, dim the lights and make sure he has some tissues for afterwords.

See....the male version of what I rattled on about....lol.....
Be prepared! I was expecting puberty to hit him like a baseball bat, not a freight train. You can never be too prepared for the chelonian sex apocalypse.


LOL...
Hahaha, so many funny replies this morning!

@ascott Truth is, the only problem I have with this (and the reason I asked about sterilization) is because I’m worried he will become more and more malnourished from refusing food to masturbate. I’m the most worried tortoise parent in existence. I’m the type to frantically pace around and hyperventilate when his poop is 2% runnier than normal. He JUST got over a horrible flagellate issue with renal complications, so right now my nerves are through the roof and I’m desperate to make sure he gets enough nutrition. If this is normal and fine...then I’ll accept it. But I still really wish he would eat like he used to.

I feed him in the kitchen because he is more likely to eat in the kitchen, and I’m deathly afraid of roaches. I can try setting up a feeding area in his enclosure that is easier to clean, but I predict I’ll take him out when he refuses to eat because I get so worried. His enclosure is 5’x7’.

I’ve heard of some people giving their tort a “live-in girlfriend”, like a spare tire or maybe a single Croc shoe from the thrift store. Maybe both Crocs if he’s feeling polygamous. Has anyone tried that before? Did it help?

Glad my pain and suffering has entertained you all! Bean’s clucking away right now. His current fling: a polished stone.

Part of nature is not starving itself to death....lol. A male in the wild (and in the city :)) can be very occupied with completing their task with regard to repopulation...let him do his thing..a pair of crocs would be fine..as long as they are not a roll over hazard or a hazard for the tort getting their head or limbs tangled in, you know?

I really did not gain happiness in your suffering....I was simply trying to offer you assurance that all is going to be fine.

Also, if you ever hear @Tom talk about the roaches he keeps "on purpose" you would not be worried so much about your set up. In all of the time I have housed torts indoors..I have not had an issue. Just remember to spot clean in the am and you will likely not have an issue....I would never offer sweet treats that are sugary (especially in an indoor set up) but your run of the mill offerings should be fine otherwise.

Keep in mind, this is a dirt, earth loving creature, that likes to muck about in wet warm soil in the summer and to flip dirt onto themselves from time to time.... :) I again would strongly suggest you try to set up the torts enclosure to be a better place for his life vs your kitchen floor....you really are not doing him a favor and your are doing yourself a disservice in that if he relieves himself on the floor you will need to seriously disinfect the entire area....it is a tortoise....and as you have discovered...they can carry some critters within them that you may not want all over your kitchen...right?
 

jockma

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He is always in his enclosure except when I try to feed him, so roughly 10 minutes at a time outside of his enclosure, when he refuses food within that time he goes right back in.

This is a somewhat related issue...I do not have any substrate in his enclosure except in tubs he cannot reach (my attempt at maintaining SOME humidity) because every time he’s on substrate, it sticks to his penis and irritates it until his tail swells up. So, because he masturbates constantly, this is a constant issue. He will get so much substrate stuck on his penis that he’ll end up miserable with his butt in the air, straining so hard I can hear him from rooms away to get the substrate out. I soak him, get the substrate off, and he’ll be fine for a while before it starts up again. I’m still working with the vet to figure out what is going on. No stones, flagellate issue is resolved, 2 courses of antibiotics (cipro and fortaz) and still nothing...I wonder if the masturbating led to an abrasion that got infected, and since he won’t stop masturbating, it won’t heal. I’m planning on getting a culture done so I can fill his enclosure with substrate again.
 

LaLaP

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He is always in his enclosure except when I try to feed him, so roughly 10 minutes at a time outside of his enclosure, when he refuses food within that time he goes right back in.

This is a somewhat related issue...I do not have any substrate in his enclosure except in tubs he cannot reach (my attempt at maintaining SOME humidity) because every time he’s on substrate, it sticks to his penis and irritates it until his tail swells up. So, because he masturbates constantly, this is a constant issue. He will get so much substrate stuck on his penis that he’ll end up miserable with his butt in the air, straining so hard I can hear him from rooms away to get the substrate out. I soak him, get the substrate off, and he’ll be fine for a while before it starts up again. I’m still working with the vet to figure out what is going on. No stones, flagellate issue is resolved, 2 courses of antibiotics (cipro and fortaz) and still nothing...I wonder if the masturbating led to an abrasion that got infected, and since he won’t stop masturbating, it won’t heal. I’m planning on getting a culture done so I can fill his enclosure with substrate again.
Oh boy. This horny dude is really causing you all kinds of headaches. And causing himself other kinds of aches. Sorry :/
 

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