Head bobbing

[Toddrickfl1]

My new Red Foot Tortoise " Murphy" is getting used to his new home. I have had him now for about 2weeks. He is about 6-7ish inches long. Everytime I go near his enclosure or close enough for him to see me he bobs his head up and down at me. I've read posts where people say that's just them breathing, but I don't think that's it. He only does it when he sees me near him. Is this a territorial thing? Is it normal?

 

[Bambam1989]

It could be him breathing in more deeply because he associates you with food. They have a great sense of smell. He could be sniffing to see if he can smell something yummy or to help clarify that it's you.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

It's actually pretty hilarious!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

This is exactly what he's doing

 

[AquaIce]

It's actually pretty hilarious!

our little red foot does it to it is very funny

 

[Bambam1989]

This is exactly what he's doing

That's alot more than sniffing haha.
I think he wants to make sure that everyone knows that he is the boss. Someone else could probably elaborate more on the behavior.
Put some heavy metal music on and he would look like a head banger!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

It doesn't seem like he's just breathing. It definitely seems like an intentional thing he's doing when he sees me!

 

[Bambam1989]

It doesn't seem like he's just breathing. It definitely seems like an intentional thing he's doing when he sees me!

I'm still learning about some of the body language they use. Someone may correct me, but I believe that the head bobbing is a way of signaling dominance. The tort equivalent of "putting up your fists" or "bowing up" at someone.
Let's hope he doesn't decide to start biting or ramming.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Great, he's only been here 2 weeks and already he's the man of the house! Lol

 

[Cheryl Hills]

Yep!

 

[Moozillion]

I agree- I think it’s likely a dominance or threat display.

 

[KrissyLeigh]

Definitely a dominance / threat thing. One of my redfoots, the smaller one, does it. She is also the one that rams me and bites. She is housed alone, bought young from a reputable breeder, I've had her for over a year, never gave her a bad experience but man she is feisty as hell!!! When she was really little I thought she was just stumbling and falling against me - she was my first tort and I was like "omg she is so tiny and clumsy how cute!" Until I realized that she was RAMMING ME WITH HER TEENY TINY BODY!

The other redfoot I have is super chill and I have never seen her head bob, I can scratch her on the head and hand feed her treats. It's funny how they can be the same species, housed identically (but separately), identical husbandry but have complete opposite personalities.

 

[TammyJ]

I'm still learning about some of the body language they use. Someone may correct me, but I believe that the head bobbing is a way of signaling dominance. The tort equivalent of "putting up your fists" or "bowing up" at someone.
Let's hope he doesn't decide to start biting or ramming.

Agreed. Iguanas do it too.

 

[CarolM]

I'm still learning about some of the body language they use. Someone may correct me, but I believe that the head bobbing is a way of signaling dominance. The tort equivalent of "putting up your fists" or "bowing up" at someone.
Let's hope he doesn't decide to start biting or ramming.

Oh boy. My little one does it sometimes when she sees me. I think she has figured out who owns who!

 

[William Lee Kohler]

My new Red Foot Tortoise " Murphy" is getting used to his new home. I have had him now for about 2weeks. He is about 6-7ish inches long. Everytime I go near his enclosure or close enough for him to see me he bobs his head up and down at me. I've read posts where people say that's just them breathing, but I don't think that's it. He only does it when he sees me near him. Is this a territorial thing? Is it normal?

Hope you're a girl cause you turn him on.