Instinct or being a brat.

Ray--Opo

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Ok everyone about 2 weeks ago Opo started flipping substrate in the feeding dish. Like the other day I gave Opo some collard greens that were mature. Knowing Opo probably wouldn't eat them. Not because Opo doesn't like them. Only because they were mature. New growth is fine. Same with other greens.
Anyways now if Opo eats it all, part or non Opo covers it in substrate not bury.
Is Opo's instincts kicking in to keep other tortoises from it or is Opo playing with me?
 

Yvonne G

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Do you actually see him tossing substrate, or could it just be he's walking through it and dragging substrate on his walk?
 

Ray--Opo

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I am certain the way it is laying Opo is flicking it on the food. I will try and get a video. My webcam is on the blink so I will try syncing it again. If not I will catch the little bugger lol
Today when I checked if Opo ate what I fed. Opo had his back end up against the tray. Not sure if Opo was ready to start flicking or not. Should have waited.
 

vladimir

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Vlad will drag substrate into the feeding area, and throw subtrate around when he's digging, but I've never seen him purposely throw substrate on the food.

He did get really excited about some chickory the other day and peed all over while he was eating :D
 

Toddrickfl1

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My Redfoot will get in his food dish and pee on his food when I give it to him sometimes. I'm assuming maybe this is to keep other tortoises away?
 

Ray--Opo

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Vlad will drag substrate into the feeding area, and throw subtrate around when he's digging, but I've never seen him purposely throw substrate on the food.

He did get really excited about some chickory the other day and peed all over while he was eating :D
I have experienced the dragging substrate in the food and water dish. If Opo does it again I will take a pic.
 

Ray--Opo

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My Redfoot will get in his food dish and pee on his food when I give it to him sometimes. I'm assuming maybe this is to keep other tortoises away?
Yeah Opo went thru a time of urinating in the food. I thought the same thing.
 

EllieMay

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Every time I try to give Toretto any kind of grass pellets, he Poops in them.. it’s VERY clear that he does not like them. It’s so proven, that if he was constipated, I could use this to get him to go. Otherwise he NEVER POOPS Anywhere but in his soaks [emoji849]
 

Ray--Opo

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I watched Opo this morning and of course Opo ate and went to bed. No substrate in dish.
 

Big Charlie

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I think he is digging and it is accidentally landing in his food. I don't think he is smart enough to do it intentionally. When Charlie digs, the dirt gets flicked up behind him. He doesn't see where it lands.
 

Ray--Opo

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I think he is digging and it is accidentally landing in his food. I don't think he is smart enough to do it intentionally. When Charlie digs, the dirt gets flicked up behind him. He doesn't see where it lands.
That's probably what's going on today Opo was digging in a different spot.
 

queen koopa

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Yeah koopa is just messy. Usually smashes a good deal of food trying to pick out her favorites, then drags it around a bit. I’ll pick it up out of the substrate, dip in some water and put it back on her feeding brick and she runs to it and scarfs it like its new.
 

Ray--Opo

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Yeah koopa is just messy. Usually smashes a good deal of food trying to pick out her favorites, then drags it around a bit. I’ll pick it up out of the substrate, dip in some water and put it back on her feeding brick and she runs to it and scarfs it like its new.
If Opo continues doing it I have decided I will wash it off and return it to the dish. Opo had some favorites today ( cactus and bok choy) I figured Opo would eat all of that.
 

jenHM

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Trudy drags substrate into her food and water dishes while she's walking around. Usually walking towards the front of her enclosure where the dishes are is her signal that she wants me to take her out.
 

Pure Tortoise Power

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My sully loves to burrow near the water dish, probably because it thinks that helps keep its burrow more humid, and I believe it's their instinct.
 
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