A friendly nip, or annoyance? My 2 year old Herman suddenly bit my chin recently when I was holding him.

[Pebbles Roberts]

Hi, I want some opinions please on why my 2 year old Hermann suddenly nipped me on my chin when I was cuddling him. I handle him every day and he usually loves to be stroked and petted. What did I do wrong? He hasn’t done it since. I’ve had him since he was three months old.

 

[wellington]

First tortoises don't want to be curled, that's for furry animals. Second, either he smelled something, or he is just maturing or he just doesn't like it, like I said they aren't for cuddling.

 

[zolasmum]

Our 23year old Hermanns tortoise actually tolerates being handled very well, but if I hold him near my face, he too will give me an occasional slight nip on my chin. I tend to think of it as a friendly gesture, rather than an attack -just touching me in a way that he can feel it - and perhaps sometimes reminding me that he is there ! I don't think he actually means to hurt you.
Angie

 

[TammyJ]

In my opinion, they are just defending themselves from the huge creature that now seems to be about to devour them!

 

[Tom]

There is no "friendly nip" when it comes to tortoises. Don't put him in your face. He doesn't like it.

 

[Pebbles Roberts]

Our 23year old Hermanns tortoise actually tolerates being handled very well, but if I hold him near my face, he too will give me an occasional slight nip on my chin. I tend to think of it as a friendly gesture, rather than an attack -just touching me in a way that he can feel it - and perhaps sometimes reminding me that he is there ! I don't think he actually means to hurt you.
Angie

Thank you Angie, that was my feeling too and he hasn’t done it since. He often gives me a nudge with his nose if I stop stroking him so he definitely enjoys being handled. It’s good to get a reply that isn’t negative.

 

[zolasmum]

Zola will actually lie on my chest, if I lie back in the chair, and will approach my mouth and put his head just below my lower lip. He will happily stay there for a long time, as long as I continue to stroke him - I think he likes my warm breath - he has never tried to bite my lip, although I am always aware he might do. He chooses to put his head there, and I feel honoured to be so trusted.
Angie

 

[Pebbles Roberts]

I think that’s wonderful. Sometimes my tortoise does a tour of the garden (under my watchful eye) then comes and stands between my feet and just stays there. I pick him up and hold him close and he seems quite relaxed and content.

 

[TammyJ]

Ok then. Some of us want to believe that the tortoises love them and just want to cuddle and snuggle 🤗. Others know the truth and tell it, cost it what it may. We all love them, that's for sure.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've been bitten several times in different places by more than one of my tortoises.
Some of it is aggression. But I think most of it is just them seeing if that thing is edible.
They're hard wired by eons of evolution. We can read into that behavior whatever suits us. But I do also believe that some tortoises eventually do like to interact with their keepers. But on their terms.

 

[Pebbles Roberts]

Thank you Zeropilot. I appreciate your comments.