Peculiar new behavior

LaLaP

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I observed a strange new behavior from one of my adult Russians, Pops.
Pops is very territorial with his food (he is alone so who is he defending it from?!) so he pees on it immediately after I set it down. Often he poops on or near it. Basically he is gross.
So the other day after he peed all over his food he walked a few steps away and wiggled his tail back and forth but as he was wiggling he stretched his back legs waaay back and used his heels to wipe the length of his tail. Took a couple steps and repeated, and again, and again.
It was just so peculiar looking I thought I'd share and see if anyone else's tortoise wipes its tail with its heels.
Silly tortoise.
 

Yvonne G

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He's trying to wipe off a stuck poop. Which means, if you couldn't see a stuck poop, he's got one lodged up inside the cloaca that won't come out.
 

LaLaP

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He's trying to wipe off a stuck poop. Which means, if you couldn't see a stuck poop, he's got one lodged up inside the cloaca that won't come out.
Oh I hadn't considered that. Very good to know. I guess a nice long soak is in order. Thanks for your response!
 

TammyJ

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I observed a strange new behavior from one of my adult Russians, Pops.
Pops is very territorial with his food (he is alone so who is he defending it from?!) so he pees on it immediately after I set it down. Often he poops on or near it. Basically he is gross.
So the other day after he peed all over his food he walked a few steps away and wiggled his tail back and forth but as he was wiggling he stretched his back legs waaay back and used his heels to wipe the length of his tail. Took a couple steps and repeated, and again, and again.
It was just so peculiar looking I thought I'd share and see if anyone else's tortoise wipes its tail with its heels.
Silly tortoise.
You said "one of my adult Russians". How far away from him are the others?
 

LaLaP

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You said "one of my adult Russians". How far away from him are the others?
I have 2 and they are in separate enclosures in the same bedroom. There is only about a foot or so between the enclosures because they take up most of the room.
Are you thinking that Pops hears or smells Diego nearby? I've wondered about this. I've observed that they are almost always active at the same time and napping at the same time and eating at the same time. That could explain Pops' peeing on his food, huh?

Also side note: when I went to get Pops to soak him today he had a big turd stuck to his foot so I guess he finally got it out!
 

Big Charlie

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I have 2 and they are in separate enclosures in the same bedroom. There is only about a foot or so between the enclosures because they take up most of the room.
Are you thinking that Pops hears or smells Diego nearby? I've wondered about this. I've observed that they are almost always active at the same time and napping at the same time and eating at the same time. That could explain Pops' peeing on his food, huh?

Also side note: when I went to get Pops to soak him today he had a big turd stuck to his foot so I guess he finally got it out!
I'm sure they sense other tortoises in the area.
 

pepsiandjac

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Also side note: when I went to get Pops to soak him today he had a big turd stuck to his foot so I guess he finally got it out
The foot rub seems to have done the trick then lol
 

Hai

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Tucson az
I observed a strange new behavior from one of my adult Russians, Pops.
Pops is very territorial with his food (he is alone so who is he defending it from?!) so he pees on it immediately after I set it down. Often he poops on or near it. Basically he is gross.
So the other day after he peed all over his food he walked a few steps away and wiggled his tail back and forth but as he was wiggling he stretched his back legs waaay back and used his heels to wipe the length of his tail. Took a couple steps and repeated, and again, and again.
It was just so peculiar looking I thought I'd share and see if anyone else's tortoise wipes its tail with its heels.
Silly tortoise.

I only have one sulcata and he likes to pee on his food also. I find it very disturbing...
 

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