Does your tortie cuddle?

[Sa Ga]

I have my Russian tort, Morla, whom I rescued last Sept (2019). I was told anywhere from these torts should not be handled to they can love human attn. I decided to try the latter....

She is a VERY relatively people-friendly girl--she never really pulls in when anyone touches her (though she won't lay all relaxed and splayed out with strangers either). And I held her some in the beginning, to now, holding her quite a bit, where she can walk around or cuddle with me on my chest or under my chin while I watch YouTube.

The other day, I just melted when she moved out from under her blanket, stretched her head out, and put her head in the crook of my shoulder/armpit, went to sleep. It was so cute to see her little sleeping face! (Usually if she moves up, she tucks under my chin--see pic--although I woke her getting my camera to snap a pic.)

Do torts usually get this sweet and cuddly? She doesn't follow me around like other ppl's torts but I adore that she seems to like being near me (sometimes even leaving her pet heat pad to lay on me instead), and I'm wondering if that's typical of Russies, or I just have an especially wonderful gal?

 

[Sa Ga]

P.S. I STILL giggle at your reply, @ZEROPILOT , when I asked about nose kisses!

Me: does anyone else's torts give nose kisses?

Zero: mine bite. Be careful.

????????

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It's very likely that your warmth was the thing that was irresistible.
But like I've said before, any perceived affection from a tortoise is probably going to be good for the tortoises and the keeper.
No harm done.
But I'll continue to not believe it

 

[Sa Ga]

It's very likely that your warmth was the thing that was irresistible.
But like I've said before, any perceived affection from a tortoise is probably going to be good for the tortoises and the keeper.
No harm done.
But I'll continue to not believe it

No, I'm telling you. Zero, it's loooooooove! Lol. (Ok, ok, more so on my end, and greedy warmth-seeking on hers...I'll take it!)

Alas, I'm inclined to agree with you...(but she has left her heat pad, which she absolutely loves!, a few rare times to specifically seek laying/going to sleep on me).

I am just wondering if other people's torties "heat-seek " them too? I'd started this venture expecting a pet more like Oadi the Toadi (a wild common toad I rescued when hit by neighbor's weed whacker and thus can no longer feed self)--mostly tolerates being handled, but makes it clear she is JUST tolerating you. Even when she's cold and is enjoying a sit on your warm inner arm, she's alert and ready to run as soon as she's warm! Morla on the other hand, lays down truly relaxed, and cuddles in.

I'm curious if other people's torts cuddle (I'd love to see a cuddly Aldabra or Sulcata!)....

 

[Sa Ga]

BTW, I want to meet a sulcata and aldabra someday!!! (Actually, I'd love to meet all the diffr types of torts! I'm new to them, and they seem like such wonderful animals!) After this whole COVID-19 Crazy is over, of course!

...lemme know if any fellow torters live in MN/WI! (You can PM me!) ?

 

[Sa Ga]

It's very likely that your warmth was the thing that was irresistible.
But like I've said before, any perceived affection from a tortoise is probably going to be good for the tortoises and the keeper.
No harm done.
But I'll continue to not believe it

This is why yours bite! ???

 

[ZEROPILOT]

No, I'm telling you. Zero, it's loooooooove! Lol. (Ok, ok, more so on my end, and greedy warmth-seeking on hers...I'll take it!)

Alas, I'm inclined to agree with you...(but she has left her heat pad, which she absolutely loves!, a few rare times to specifically seek laying/going to sleep on me).

I am just wondering if other people's torties "heat-seek " them too? I'd started this venture expecting a pet more like Oadi the Toadi (a wild common toad I rescued when hit by neighbor's weed whacker and thus can no longer feed self)--mostly tolerates being handled, but makes it clear she is JUST tolerating you. Even when she's cold and is enjoying a sit on your warm inner arm, she's alert and ready to run as soon as she's warm! Morla on the other hand, lays down truly relaxed, and cuddles in.

I'm curious if other people's torts cuddle (I'd love to see a cuddly Aldabra or Sulcata!)....

So, for cuddling, you have a Toad and a Russian tortoise?

 

[jeneliza]

My, pumpkin, doe get under my chin, but I think it's more of feeling safe, and warm, but she does love to be talk to, and will bang on the front of her encloser if you don't pay attention to her, she also love to be sang to, she loves you are my Sunshine, it's so cute she comes to your side, or if in her home, she will come to the side your at and turn her head and look at you, it's so sweet when she does this

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Man.
MY tortoises suck!

 

[jeneliza]

You have a pet

Man.
MY tortoises suck!

Nah, mine is just super super spoiled, I am well trained, lol...(and she gets pretty much what she wants, )

 

[ZEROPILOT]

You have a pet

Nah, mine is just super super spoiled, I am well trained, lol...(and she gets pretty much what she wants, )

Mine have a tropical paradise and they all wish me death

 

[jeneliza]

Mine have a tropical paradise and they all wish me death

Lol, I don't think so, because then who would feed them, mine is probably plotting my death as well, when she looks up at me, probably thinking oh dear God, please stop that awful sound,

 

[Sa Ga]

So, for cuddling, you have a Toad and a Russian tortoise?

Well, I have my two pups also. But I find Morla relaxing to hold (no jumping up and down and stepping all over while they readjust 10 times an hour, etc.) And Oadi, well, I feed her and pet her a little bit when I do, but she definitely permits it for only a few minutes and then crawls off wanting to go back to her cage!

 

[Sa Ga]

Man.
MY tortoises suck!

You just need to start cuddling them ....lol. (maybe with protective gear? ?)

 

[jeneliza]

Well, I have my two pups also. But I find Morla relaxing to hold (no jumping up and down and stepping all over while they readjust 10 times an hour, etc.) And Oadi, well, I feed her and pet her a little bit when I do, but she definitely permits it for only a few minutes and then crawls off wanting to go back to her cage!

I think it's pretty cool you have saved the toad, and have her as a pet, I keep a few in my garden, but there not my pets, but they stay because there safe and well feed,

 

[Sa Ga]

I think it's pretty cool you have saved the toad, and have her as a pet, I keep a few in my garden, but there not my pets, but they stay because there safe and well feed,

I had intended to release her once her hand, eye, and face had healed, but the vet said it would be difficult with one eye (no depth perception) and her jaw/tongue never recovered (her tongue doesn't flip out). So, Oadi's here for the long haul!
?❤

 

[Maggie3fan]

Man.
MY tortoises suck!

I do believe that most people tend to anthropomorphize tortoises. They are prehistoric animals, supposedly without the capacity for emotion...with that said...I give you Bob...I used to think he really loved me, he'd follow me around, he made personal appearances, he was on TV twice and in the newspaper here 3 times and The Fresno Bee once. Most old timers here will tell you about the 'Bob stories"' I wrote, they were just loved by the people here. It was obvious to anyone who saw us together that we had a different and special relationship. One of the Forum members was so taken by Bob and his stories that she flew here from Denver simply to meet Bob...he was one of a kind. I tried to convince myself that to Bob I was just 'the Food Goddess'. but it was just too obvious to anyone, that our relationship was different.
I have spent time with Big Sam and Knobby...trying to do the same things for/with them that I did for Bob. To no avail...I will never have another relationship with another tortoise like I did with Bob. I was very lucky to experience it.

 

[Sa Ga]

I do believe that most people tend to anthropomorphize tortoises. They are prehistoric animals, supposedly without the capacity for emotion...with that said...I give you Bob...I used to think he really loved me, he'd follow me around, he made personal appearances, he was on TV twice and in the newspaper here 3 times and The Fresno Bee once. Most old timers here will tell you about the 'Bob stories"' I wrote, they were just loved by the people here. It was obvious to anyone who saw us together that we had a different and special relationship. One of the Forum members was so taken by Bob and his stories that she flew here from Denver simply to meet Bob...he was one of a kind. I tried to convince myself that to Bob I was just 'the Food Goddess'. but it was just too obvious to anyone, that our relationship was different.
I have spent time with Big Sam and Knobby...trying to do the same things for/with them that I did for Bob. To no avail...I will never have another relationship with another tortoise like I did with Bob. IView attachment 289576 was very lucky to experience it.

Darn it, Mags, you made me cry. What a boy! I wish I'd been able to meet him. I totally would have flown out to do that!

Though I do think we definitely anthropomorphize a lot (or just simply misinterpret), I think any sentient being has a level of emotion, and esp with the more complex animals (so not so much for the insects, slugs, and crayfish....), there comes the trust and attachment. I think you present a perfect example of this with Bob vs. your others. They ALL see u as a source of food and goodwill, but they don't enjoy being with u like that. And what do we call it when u enjoy and seek out someone? Attachment.

I am just so sorry you lost Bob. My heart hurts just thinking about it. But, you have yourself one massive guardian angel, and one hell of an adorable escort over the rainbow bridge! ❤❤❤

 

[jeneliza]

I had intended to release her once her hand, eye, and face had healed, but the vet said it would be difficult with one eye (no depth perception) and her jaw/tongue never recovered (her tongue doesn't flip out). So, Oadi's here for the long haul!
?❤

It' really cool, most people would not have cared, and thought she was just a toad, do you hibernate her? Or just let her be?just curious about what it takes to care for a toad, I don't plan on taking any out of nature, there not a pet for me, but working for a pet supplier, we do get people who rescued different animals, and come in looking for supplies,

 

[jeneliza]

I do believe that most people tend to anthropomorphize tortoises. They are prehistoric animals, supposedly without the capacity for emotion...with that said...I give you Bob...I used to think he really loved me, he'd follow me around, he made personal appearances, he was on TV twice and in the newspaper here 3 times and The Fresno Bee once. Most old timers here will tell you about the 'Bob stories"' I wrote, they were just loved by the people here. It was obvious to anyone who saw us together that we had a different and special relationship. One of the Forum members was so taken by Bob and his stories that she flew here from Denver simply to meet Bob...he was one of a kind. I tried to convince myself that to Bob I was just 'the Food Goddess'. but it was just too obvious to anyone, that our relationship was different.
I have spent time with Big Sam and Knobby...trying to do the same things for/with them that I did for Bob. To no avail...I will never have another relationship with another tortoise like I did with Bob. IView attachment 289576 was very lucky to experience it.

Awe, so sweet ?