Bob, the jerk

[Zamric]

We have a 6' fence around our yard.... WalkingRock is content just to walk up and down the longest part.... except he is once again trying to get into the Tortoise run that is reserved for Eros and Gaia. (he can see over that wall if he climbs a little)

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Bob stands on his back legs and can barely get his eyes over the top of his fence. I wonder actually how many wild Sulcata stand on their back legs like that, But almost every captive Sulcata will stand against the fence.
When WalkingRock wants to change direction does he turn into the fence instead of away from it? I've seen so many bigger Sulcata do that. Bob does it every time, rubbing his face into the wood. Not too smart...

 

[Yvonne G]

My fences in Dudley's pen all lean away from the inside of the pen at the corners and the dirt is piled up behind him as Dudley pushes into the fence for the turn.

I've given it a lot of thought, and I can't figure out why they have to turn into instead of away from the fence at the corners.

 

[Zamric]

He always seems to turn right.... One way on the fence line he turns away (far end of the yard) and the other way (walking to front) he turns into the wall (brick at That end). I have never seen him on his hind feet except when he is trying to get into the raised portion of the yard,,,, where the little ones roam!

 

[Maggie Cummings]

I took some photos of him in the rain today and wanted to get one of him on his back legs trying to see over the fence, but the rain made it too slick for him to stand up. He had trouble just walking in the mud. The sun was out for a few days and now it's rained everyday for a week. He still wants to get out, so I let him, trying not to worry about the 'cold and wet' thing, guess he's big enough to handle some cold...

 

[jfales]

I've suggested to my brother-in-law not to encourage potentially bad behavior by showing a yummy head of bok choy above the enclosure wall. I, too, am concerned that once Mac starts a undesirable behavior, more construction will be the only solution.

 

[jfales]

You can only hope! It only took Tank three weeks to realize it's fun to move chairs and pots!

Mac already will attempt to move any chair - especially if someone is sitting in it!

 

[T33's Torts]

Mac already will attempt to move any chair - especially if someone is sitting in it!

I try not to sit while Tank is out! A potential safety hazard! LOL.

 

[jfales]

I try not to sit while Tank is out! A potential safety hazard! LOL.

LOL! Mac likes exposed toes - look like carrots, I guess!

 

[T33's Torts]

LOL! Mac likes exposed toes - look like carrots, I guess!

Tank tried to eat my shoe laces! Fun stuff.

 

[Hauntmom]

Oh my trouble maker lol So cute though. Can't wait till mine get big!

 

[Maggie Cummings]

Oh my trouble maker lol So cute though. Can't wait till mine get big!

Remember you said that when they do get big and you have to do more construction to safely contain them...
I dearly love Bob, but he has been a pain in my butt for a lot of years now...He IS a trouble maker.

 

[Zamric]

The biggest problem with Large Sulcatas is that they don't know their own strength.... and then we underestimate that same strength ourselves! A friend of mine once said "...it's like you have your very own backhoe but it has a mind of its own and poops all over your back yard..."

 

[Maggie Cummings]

The biggest problem with Large Sulcatas is that they don't know their own strength.... and then we underestimate that same strength ourselves! A friend of mine once said "...it's like you have your very own backhoe but it has a mind of its own and poops all over your back yard..."

That is SO true! I know a Sulcata keeper in Alabama I think it is, and she has those big wooden Adirondack chairs in her back yard and her biggest Sulcata is constantly walking under one and getting it stuck, then he walks around the yard with that chair on his back, evidently not caring it's there...
They are such pains, so forceful, funny, personable and great tortoises. Sometimes I think I'm really schizophrenic about how I feel about Bob...
I don't think I've ever read a complaint from you about WalkingRock, the way I complain/tell stories about Bob, yet I know he's almost the same age and size...

 

[Zamric]

WalkingRock will be 14 this year (on July 11th I think) and is currently @120lbs. This weekend he walked up and down the yard wearing a 6' ladder I was working on to repair some siding.... I got my camera out about the time a low branch knocked it off. My biggest complaint about WalkingRock is that he keeps knocking the heads off my yard sprinklers and I don't catch it till watering day and I have a gyser shooting water 15' in the air and him under the falling water with a big Sh*% eating grin on his face. I think he just likes playing in a water fountain....sigh...

 

[Yourlocalpoet]

I've given it a lot of thought, and I can't figure out why they have to turn into instead of away from the fence at the corners.

I always assumed it was some kind of defensive thing; turn into something you know is safe instead of turning into the open and something getting you!

Or they just like dragging their faces on walls...

 

[Maggie Cummings]

WalkingRock will be 14 this year (on July 11th I think) and is currently @120lbs. This weekend he walked up and down the yard wearing a 6' ladder I was working on to repair some siding.... I got my camera out about the time a low branch knocked it off. My biggest complaint about WalkingRock is that he keeps knocking the heads off my yard sprinklers and I don't catch it till watering day and I have a gyser shooting water 15' in the air and him under the falling water with a big Sh*% eating grin on his face. I think he just likes playing in a water fountain....sigh...

So he's 2 yrs younger then Bob and 30 pounds lighter. I hope you don't mind when I say...I AM SO glad he does bad stuff too. I was afraid Bob had a mental problem and resented me as his keeper...LOL

I always assumed it was some kind of defensive thing; turn into something you know is safe instead of turning into the open and something getting you!
Or they just like dragging their faces on walls...

I never really thought about it being a safety factor. That's pretty good thinking on your part. Poor Bob's face always looks like he ran into a cheese grater...

 

[T33's Torts]

@Zamric That is EXACTLY what Tank does! The sprinklers! I have 7, and have had to replace all of them at least once!

 

[T33's Torts]

Tank knocked over my avocado tree pot today! Bad Tank!

 

[Len B]

Turning around by Walker is the same, face towards the wall fence or whatever, A couple years ago I set a 110 gallon tank beside a shed with a few inches of water in it.When I put it there I made sure Walker could walk between them with room to spare. You know when you move or add something new in an adult sulcatas living area they need to investigate. He walked around it a couple of times and then decided to turn around when between them, it became almost comical watching him, first one way then the other. I didn't notice which way he was facing but in a short time he had moved the tank enough so that he was able to turn around. They are smart and will test you every chance they get, I have to do a dance just to sweep the concrete patio when he is awake.