This year and last year I've noticed my gopher tortoise (Shelly) keeps bobbing their head at my desert tortoise (Squirtle). The desert tortoise for the most part seems to be ignoring it, and will never bob back.
My research led me to two things,
- aggression/territorialism
- mating
Could it be anything else?
I've let Shelly bob their at Squirt for extended periods of time, but they never tried to mount the desert tortoise. Additionally, in research I've done, aggression seems to usually entail the other tortoise bobbing back. I've never seen them fight before. They'll eat out of the same pile of food without issue and during this past hibernation season, they burrowed together.
I have no idea what to do now. Should I be keeping a closer eye on them? Are they dangerous to each other; would I have to try to find one of them another home?
Additional information:
Desert tortoise has been a pet their whole life, they're about six or seven.
The gopher tortoise is a rescue, so we don't know how old they are. Shelly is full grown, though.
I have a video of it, but when I attach it to this post, it won't stay. if seeing it would help, I can show it.
My research led me to two things,
- aggression/territorialism
- mating
Could it be anything else?
I've let Shelly bob their at Squirt for extended periods of time, but they never tried to mount the desert tortoise. Additionally, in research I've done, aggression seems to usually entail the other tortoise bobbing back. I've never seen them fight before. They'll eat out of the same pile of food without issue and during this past hibernation season, they burrowed together.
I have no idea what to do now. Should I be keeping a closer eye on them? Are they dangerous to each other; would I have to try to find one of them another home?
Additional information:
Desert tortoise has been a pet their whole life, they're about six or seven.
The gopher tortoise is a rescue, so we don't know how old they are. Shelly is full grown, though.
I have a video of it, but when I attach it to this post, it won't stay. if seeing it would help, I can show it.