Hermann Tortoise going in Circles Running - Normal?

[Lady Thompson]

My little guy is so funny and I hope he isn't ill or upset, but he is always having little walking bouts in the evening. He goes around in the same little route checking things out. And he goes pretty fast.

He is 9 weeks old and he is pooping and eating, sleeping, and interested in things. Is this normal? It is almost like an exercise routine. lol

 

[Yvonne G]

A lot of tortoises seem to have a route that they travel. I don't think there's anything to worry about, but just in case, re-check the temperatures all over the floor of the habitat to be sure they're within the correct range.

 

[Lady Thompson]

Thank you and I will re check the temperatures.

 

[jaredherman]

Yep, mine does the same thing. he actually makes little trails around his enclosure.

 

[Tom]

What size enclosure?

 

[Moozillion]

My Hermann's, Elsa, does the same thing. We call it Patrolling her Perimeter! She went really fast when she was in her enclosure for the first couple of times, but now she ambles. Still likes the perimeter, and you can just start to see the path she's worn. I understand the land tortoises are supposed to have pretty good mental mapping ability- maybe the repetition helps her form her mental map?

 

[Copper]

My four and half week Hermann tortoise will do that too, he tends to walk the same route in his enclosure everyday, he also likes to lay in the same spot under the heat/UVL light everyday. At night he buries himself in the same corner for the night. Glad to hear your tortoise does similar things too

 

[christine vdbs]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

 

[margykid]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

You have some CRAZY tortoises

 

[Jabuticaba]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

Cutest things ever!!


May
THBs: Darwin & Merlin
Aussies: Dax, Vegas, & Cricket
IG: @AUSSOMEAUSSIES

 

[Smartie123]

That is so funny! My little donny has started doing something similar and throwing himself off a bridge he has in his enclosure. I was a little worried but now I've seen yours their clearly just little thrill seekers!

 

[Louise C]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

Love this video!

Pedro does this for a hour in the morning and an hour in the evening.....just climbs up his hide jumps off and starts again. First thing he does when I let him out is to find something (usually one of girls' toys) to climb and jump off. He's getting a bit big for his current hide so I've ordered him a 40x25cm platform with a ladder so he can keep up his parkour practice.....so excited.

 

[TheNorwegian]

It's better to have them run around than have them running at the wall in a corner for hours. Thay can really be a pain in the ***!

 

[Daveyhimself]

They can be really active and run laps around an enclosure. My hermann's does his laps in the morning.

 

[stojanovski92113]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

OMG that's crazy!!! I've never seen tortoises that active! They were having a blast!

 

[THBfriend]

I've captured some active hatchlings running laps, too:

 

[Meesh]

Our tortoises used to play like children on a slide when they were small. Over and over again. Their space was a lot larger then you can see on the film:

I'm actually glad to see these videos! I thought my male hermanns tort was a bit "off" he LOVES to climb anyth he can and just leap off it ? I hate it, it freaks me out. I keep trying to stop him from doing it bc i dont want him to hurt himself but now I see its pretty "normal" & hes just playing..