Agression?

[CherryLover]

I have two yearling cherry-headed tortoises I've raised since hatchlings. They are currently housed separately, but prior to separation, they lived together as hatchlings (I only learned that pairs are bad AFTER I already owned them both). One day when they were still living together, I noticed an odd behavior I had never seen exhibited before. I will describe it as best I can (wish I had a video of it):

I had just finished my daily routine of cleaning their enclosure, soaking them, and placing their fresh food out for the day. Bob (the larger of the two) was half on, half off the large ceramic tile I used for feeding them. Grady (smaller of the two, but MUCH more active) was approaching the food dish. Note, usually, Grady would sprint to the food dish and get there first, while Bob preferred to listen to me talk to him for a while . Grady got to within a couple of inches of the food dish and Bob. Then, this weird behavior started. They both stretched their necks out slightly, with their heads elevated higher than normal. Bob's head to the right, Grady's head to the left. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds, then very quickly Bob's head went to the left and Grady's head went to the right. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds again, then switched head potions, Bob's head to the right, Grady's head to the left. This ritual continued on for about a minute. What struck me was the speed with which they switched their head positions, then the stillness as they stared at each other.

I took this behavior as food aggression and immediately separated them (was getting to be time anyway). I've always wondered if that really was aggression, or something else. Inquiring minds want to know!! Thanks for any input on explaining the behavior. Just looking to learn and be a better tort keeper ...

 

[Tom]

Its not food aggression. Its a dominance contest. Whenever you put two animals together, one will be dominant and one submissive. Group dynamics are different. Not so personal. You see the same thing more readily and regularly with Galapagos tortoises. So many tortoise keepers fail to recognize the signs of tortoise aggression and territoriality. Its good that you separated them. Many people wait until there is actual physical damage. Most people don't seem to recognize the damage from chronic stress that happens before actual combat begins.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Thankfully Redfoot are usually not so outwardly aggressive that they bite and harm one another. (Usually) But that stress can sure affect their well being. It can make them physically ill.

You probably have two young males and they will need to stay apart.