Females Mount??

[Tropical Torts]

Went out to check on the gang this morning and one of the females was mounting a large male and clucking. I thought this very strange and it never even occurred to me to take a picture (im not much of a morning person). Anyway, just as i was leaving I went back out for a quick look and the same female was mounting another female and clucking at her just like a male would.

I have heard that females will sometime mount other females but I have never heard of or seen anything like this before. Oh, she is definitly a female btw.

I am wondering if anyone has ever seen this odd occurrance before and whether or not it is cause for concern or if it is "normal"?

All thoughts and opinions welcome.
Thanks

 

[Kristina]

A couple of my girls have done it too. It is normal behavior, sometimes showing dominance, sometimes hormonal

 

[N2TORTS]

Jr..... yuppers I have a few Females in the herd that will do that same thing on occasion. Usally starts with a massive head~bob and following them around the yard ....till they can "mount up"
and catch their man! ........

Dang ... would'nt be so bad to be a tort eh ?


JD~

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

We have one that will display that dominance from time to time.

 

[jackrat]

I've seen mine do it a few times,not long before they laid.

 

[Tropical Torts]

Thanks for the thoughts everybody! Im glad to know its normal because she was doing the same thing again this morning.

Jackrat: what you said has made me a little excited because this would be my first if she laid soon. Fingers crossed!! I can hardly wait her to lay if thats the case.

Thanks much!

 

[Geochelone_Carbonaria]

My "egg factory" usually show this type of behaviour a couple of weeks before she's ready to lay. She becomes very agressive towards the others in the herd. Yesterday in the outdoor enclosure, I caught this picture with my BlackBerry cam, showing my largest female mounting another female after she has been chasing her around ! But since it's only a month since she laid her last clutch, this surprises me a bit, since I recon it's a bit too early for her ? but one never knows

I really hope your female is showing the same behaviour so she's getting ready to lay !



And please note the "voyer" to the right, that's my youngest male studying

 

[Tropical Torts]

Thanks Mike! That is the exact behavior i am seeing. This morning she was mounting a male though, could this possibly meant that she wants him to mate with her?

 

[Geochelone_Carbonaria]

Thanks Mike! That is the exact behavior i am seeing. This morning she was mounting a male though, could this possibly meant that she wants him to mate with her?

NP ! LOL since my female did exactly tha same this morning, she was trying to mount my smallest male

So no, I think they're trying to tell us something, nudge nudge wink wink know what I mean ?

 

[Tropical Torts]

I know just what you mean!