Box Turtle Raising and Lowering It’s Butt

[Dunskis13]

I have a box turtle and recently I’ve noticed that sometimes when she’s just sitting in her table she will raise and lower the back of her shell (by her butt) as if she was trying to potty but nothing happens. Is she just a heavy breather or what’s going on with her?

additionally, I noticed she has been less interested in eating, (2 yr old box) but I’m attributing that to her being moved into her tortoise table just a few days ago

 

[Toddrickfl1]

I have a box turtle and recently I’ve noticed that sometimes when she’s just sitting in her table she will raise and lower the back of her shell (by her butt) as if she was trying to potty but nothing happens. Is she just a heavy breather or what’s going on with her?

additionally, I noticed she has been less interested in eating, (2 yr old box) but I’m attributing that to her being moved into her tortoise table just a few days ago

She might be a He, who's just discovering himself.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Might also be normal “thermoregulation” . Is your turtle outside or inside? Any changes to temps or lighting? Where are you (and your turtle) located? Many parts of the UK & US are going through a heat wave. So, check your temps too.

 

[Dunskis13]

She might be a He, who's just discovering himself.

Is he... humping the dirt?

 

[JoesMum]

Is he... humping the dirt?

Males will hump everything and anything when they first discover the pleasure. They grow out of it eventually in theory: although my male Greek never did

I have seen them doing this in response to being rubbed on the shell by a brush or bush. It may not be a young male. If your tort does turn out to be male you will see the all too obvious evidence sooner or later. It’s a once seen never forgotten experience

 

[Gijoux]

Males will hump everything and anything when they first discover the pleasure. They grow out of it eventually in theory: although my male Greek never did

I have seen them doing this in response to being rubbed on the shell by a brush or bush. It may not be a young male. If your tort does turn out to be male you will see the all too obvious evidence sooner or later. It’s a once seen never forgotten experience

And hard to describe!

 

[Dunskis13]

Might also be normal “thermoregulation” . Is your turtle outside or inside? Any changes to temps or lighting? Where are you (and your turtle) located? Many parts of the UK & US are going through a heat wave. So, check your temps too.

S/he is inside. I have an outdoor enclosure but it’s under shade and has water and everything. Additionally I normally see them do it inside sometimes under their heat lamp but sometimes not

 

[Gijoux]

I have a box turtle and recently I’ve noticed that sometimes when she’s just sitting in her table she will raise and lower the back of her shell (by her butt) as if she was trying to potty but nothing happens. Is she just a heavy breather or what’s going on with her?

additionally, I noticed she has been less interested in eating, (2 yr old box) but I’m attributing that to her being moved into her tortoise table just a few days ago

Is this Tortoise housed with another tortoise? If so this may be a dominant gesture to the other tortoise.