Is it cute or just territorial behavior?

[Liljae9263]

So I’m just curious about this!

While I clean out and refresh my baby boy’s tank I’ve noticed he likes to chase my hands and when he’s close he’ll slowly stick his head out, maybe sniff me, and try to take the smallest slowest bite of my finger. I always pull away b4 he does (his beak is sharp!) but I’ve been thinking it’s just silly little play! Now I’m wondering if he’s angry and wants me to leave so he’s trying to nip at me!

Either way it’s v cute I can’t lie.

And I’m sure it’s on purpose. I moved my hand a lot today and watched him follow it. He was v clearly following my hand and when he got close he always tried to bite at it!

(He has bitten me when he was a baby. It was an accident, totally my fault, and no blood was shed. But I’ve seen someone say they’re tortoise also chases them to nip at them ever since biting them once. Like they’re blood hungry from just one taste haha! Of course ik they’re herbivores!)

Wondering if anyone else’s tortoise does this too!

(Included a pic of him basking on his clean rock! It was toasty warm for him - his bowls r empty bc I had just cleaned them! I put more yummies and water in there shortly after! Yall dont panic!)

 

[Yvonne G]

That's from offering food from your hand.

 

[Liljae9263]

That's from offering food from your hand.

Ahhhhhh ok! I did hand feed him a couple times when he was a baby to make sure he ate and to gain trust ! Oops !

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

lol bless himyes very usual behaviour for these cheeky guys, naturally very territorial and curious animals, he’s just curious what you’re up to in his home haha, the biting can be a combination of territorial behaviour and the fact you’re food god lol, every time he sees your hand, he knows a magic salad eventually appears, he’s probably curious what the food god tastes likeI agree it’s very cute watching them follow you round

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

This is part of why I soak my tortoise so often. It is sometimes impossible to clean up when he runs to me. Also sometimes I feel like cleaning with him in the enclosure gets him way too agitated, literally running up the walls. I somehow feel better with him trying to escape his soak rather than stress him out in his own environment.

 

[Liljae9263]

This is part of why I soak my tortoise so often. It is sometimes impossible to clean up when he runs to me. Also sometimes I feel like cleaning with him in the enclosure gets him way too agitated, literally running up the walls. I somehow feel better with him trying to escape his soak rather than stress him out in his own environment.

He never runs up the walls to get away from me! Honestly he follows me more than anything and when I finish with an area he’ll ignore me and spend a while checking it all out. I feel like I’ve gotten relatively good at reading him and I want to say he doesn’t mind when I come in there and make things nice. It seems to be exciting for him! But whenever I do big resets I normally put him in the soak and do it. For little resets like straightening up decor and cleaning up the dirt I don’t bother soaking bc it’s quicker that way.

A lot of the times when he seems annoyed with me he walks away from me. Like when I wake him in the morning to give him food. He’ll walk to the complete opposite of the enclosure and side eye me, butt to me until he eventually comes back around to get his yummies hehehe.

I do try my best not to freak him out too much. I’m p gentle with him and try not to make any sudden movements. He’s always been v tolerant and thx to me taking care of him in the petstore b4 I got him, he got v used to handling and people in his tank!

 

[zolasmum]

Happy Birthday - I hope your tortoise is on his best behaviour for you today,He is very handsome.
Angie

 

[Liljae9263]

Happy Birthday - I hope your tortoise is on his best behaviour for you today,He is very handsome.
Angie

Thank u ! Franklin is always best boy

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Oh I totally missed it, happy birthday!

 

[COmtnLady]

Happy Birthday

 

[COmtnLady]

What quantity are you feeding? Perhaps your tort is hungry?