The pacing.. why??

[AZDutchess]

I was reading thru old threads but still don't understand, I have a large outdoor enclosure that our not yet but assumed "Texas" or Desert Tortoise lives in mostly full time unless in brumation, I put her in the refrigerator during that.. I follow Tom's threads.. she has a night box she uses in her very large outdoor area but for whatever reason chooses to pace along this one wall after eating usually.. I don't understand why she doesn't explore the whole habitat? There are rocks and hills to climb.. if I let her roam the backyard supervised she goes everywhere... doesn't pace??? This is her wall she paces.. she's peeking out right now.. lol

 

[zovick]

I was reading thru old threads but still don't understand, I have a large outdoor enclosure that our not yet but assumed "Texas" or Desert Tortoise lives in mostly full time unless in brumation, I put her in the refrigerator during that.. I follow Tom's threads.. she has a night box she uses in her very large outdoor area but for whatever reason chooses to pace along this one wall after eating usually.. I don't understand why she doesn't explore the whole habitat? There are rocks and hills to climb.. if I let her roam the backyard supervised she goes everywhere... doesn't pace??? This is her wall she paces.. she's peeking out right now.. lol View attachment 400521

If the tortoise is able to see through the barrier, it will often pace along that barrier trying to get to the other side. If the two rails were touching each other instead of having an inch or two of space between them as they now do, you would most likely not be seeing this behavior. If you can move the top rail down and put it right on top of the bottom rail or if you put another piece of wood over all the existing spaces between the present rails, the pacing will most likely stop.

 

[AZDutchess]

I thought she would like a little "windows" to peek out but obviously its causing the pacing. Thanks for your input.

 

[Tom]

I thought she would like a little "windows" to peek out but obviously its causing the pacing. Thanks for your input.

I completely agree with Zovick on this, but in addition, as Yvonne regularly points out, once the tortoise knows there is a great big world out there, it makes them restless to get out to see it again. People who have small indoor enclosures often let the tortoise roam the house, and then the tortoise is ever more antsy when placed back into the small enclosure. Roaming loose in the house is simply not safe, but that's another subject... The point is that your tortoise has been to the other side and now wants to go there again. The visual barrier will reduce this tendency, and after some time, the tortoise should be content in its own large space that you've made for it.

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

I was reading thru old threads but still don't understand, I have a large outdoor enclosure that our not yet but assumed "Texas" or Desert Tortoise lives in mostly full time unless in brumation, I put her in the refrigerator during that.. I follow Tom's threads.. she has a night box she uses in her very large outdoor area but for whatever reason chooses to pace along this one wall after eating usually.. I don't understand why she doesn't explore the whole habitat? There are rocks and hills to climb.. if I let her roam the backyard supervised she goes everywhere... doesn't pace??? This is her wall she paces.. she's peeking out right now.. lol View attachment 400521

Beautiful and what a cutie! I have Sulcatas, and we don`t have peekaboo slots, solid walls, and they pace! Back and forth, back and forth. I call it "Queens guard marching." The adult males and female do more of a perimeter check in their enclosures, but the little ones have their marching routines down to a science! Each has its spots. I've noticed there are two types of walking - marching and exploratory. The latter is when they go back and forth, but every time they add a little more to the route. As to why the pacing, my theory is that repeated motion is a soothing, no-brainer activity they enjoy, keeps them warm, plus locomotion helps their digestion. Half the time after a meal, my little ones would just get on with their marching and, once exhausted, get a nap. On the other hand, I read that tortoises are masters of conserving energy, brainpower included, and pacing fits that bill. Rather, assuming human behavior - pacing=stressed. For them, it is simply something to do.

 

[TammyJ]

What's on the other side? Another tortoise?
I agree with all that has already been said.
Also, it's become a habit. Follow the trail.

 

[Tom]

Beautiful and what a cutie! I have Sulcatas, and we don`t have peekaboo slots, solid walls, and they pace! Back and forth, back and forth. I call it "Queens guard marching." The adult males and female do more of a perimeter check in their enclosures, but the little ones have their marching routines down to a science! Each has its spots. I've noticed there are two types of walking - marching and exploratory. The latter is when they go back and forth, but every time they add a little more to the route. As to why the pacing, my theory is that repeated motion is a soothing, no-brainer activity they enjoy, keeps them warm, plus locomotion helps their digestion. Half the time after a meal, my little ones would just get on with their marching and, once exhausted, get a nap. On the other hand, I read that tortoises are masters of conserving energy, brainpower included, and pacing fits that bill. Rather, assuming human behavior - pacing=stressed. For them, it is simply something to do.

Your posted reminded me of a study I read years ago on captive wolves compared to wild wolves. Many assumed that the wolves pacing was some sort of neurotic behavior, or that they were stressed. Blood cortisol testing and other factors were studied and repeatedly checked, and the wolves appeared to be in good health and unstressed in every way. They measured how long and how far the captive wolves were pacing daily and guess what... It was roughly the same time and distance that a wild wolf was covering daily. They were just moving around and exercising in a similar way to how they would in the wild, just doing it back and forth in their large enclosure instead of in a straight-ish line. Even the wild wolves often followed the same tracks in and out daily.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

What's on the other side? Another tortoise?

A good point, if there is another tortoise on the other side, a better and sight proof barrier is needed.

 

[AZDutchess]

A good point, if there is another tortoise on the other side, a better and sight proof barrier is needed.

No other tortoises in the vicinity, its like Tom said I gave her a glimpse to what is there and now she craves that wild blue yonder... I only let her wonder out when I supervise her we go for walks together

 

[AZDutchess]

Your posted reminded me of a study I read years ago on captive wolves compared to wild wolves. Many assumed that the wolves pacing was some sort of neurotic behavior, or that they were stressed. Blood cortisol testing and other factors were studied and repeatedly checked, and the wolves appeared to be in good health and unstressed in every way. They measured how long and how far the captive wolves were pacing daily and guess what... It was roughly the same time and distance that a wild wolf was covering daily. They were just moving around and exercising in a similar way to how they would in the wild, just doing it back and forth in their large enclosure instead of in a straight-ish line. Even the wild wolves often followed the same tracks in and out daily.

Tom this was the article I found when I was reading the older posts! I saw what you wrote about the wolves. Interesting information

 

[Tom]

No other tortoises in the vicinity, its like Tom said I gave her a glimpse to what is there and now she craves that wild blue yonder... I only let her wonder out when I supervise her we go for walks together

Post pics of the underside of the chin and the tail and anal scutes. She might be a he, and if so, males get wanderlust in the spring time to go find a mate or two. Females too sometimes, but I see it more in males.

 

[AZDutchess]

A good point, if there is another tortoise on the other side, a better and sight proof barrier is needed.

Nope no other tortoise in the yard, lots of large rocks that she may think look like them.. I will try to block the view and see if it helps but thinking this is just a behavioral pattern for her.

 

[AZDutchess]

Post pics of the underside of the chin and the tail and anal scutes. She might be a he, and if so, males get wanderlust in the spring time to go find a mate or two. Females too sometimes, but I see it more in males.

Shes in her hide box sleeping right now, I will get her this afternoon when she comes down to eat..

 

[Tom]

Shes in her hide box sleeping right now, I will get her this afternoon when she comes down to eat..

Copy that. All tortoises look female-ish as youngsters. The secondary sexual characteristics don't show up until later when the hormones start flowing. Often I see behavioral traits, like your pacing, before the tell tale visual signs show up in maturing animals.

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

Your posted reminded me of a study I read years ago on captive wolves compared to wild wolves. Many assumed that the wolves pacing was some sort of neurotic behavior, or that they were stressed. Blood cortisol testing and other factors were studied and repeatedly checked, and the wolves appeared to be in good health and unstressed in every way. They measured how long and how far the captive wolves were pacing daily and guess what... It was roughly the same time and distance that a wild wolf was covering daily. They were just moving around and exercising in a similar way to how they would in the wild, just doing it back and forth in their large enclosure instead of in a straight-ish line. Even the wild wolves often followed the same tracks in and out daily.

You know what’s funny in my gut I knew that the pacing mileage in the captivity equals travel in wildlife!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

You know what’s funny in my gut I knew that the pacing mileage in the captivity equals travel in wildlife!

Russian tortoise for example are in the smaller end and their enclosure minium is one of the smallest compared to other species but even they have huge territories in the wild. I remember reading a study claiming that male russians have territories of 10 hectares (that is 24,710... acres), with females having a bit smaller territories overlapping each other.

This is just one example of how an enclosure will never be quite big enough

 

[Alice Sulcatia]

Russian tortoise for example are in the smaller end and their enclosure minium is one of the smallest compared to other species but even they have huge territories in the wild. I remember reading a study claiming that male russians have territories of 10 hectares (that is 24,710... acres), with females having a bit smaller territories overlapping each other.

This is just one example of how an enclosure will never be quite big enough

That is awesome, and at the same time pathetically sad? However, I believe if we make space interesting enough, rather boring flatland, we could somewhat make up? Turtles are more intelligent and inquisitive than most give them credit, and when given the opportunity to explore, climb, play hide and seek, test their strength, agility, etc., they will jump on it. My little ones (3-9yrs) have an obstacle course, little bridges, and dedicated digging spots, and they love it!