Since I've gotten Pumpkin I've taken notice of some of his mannerisms and such and I was wondering if they were normal tortoise behaviors or a means for concern.
Firstly, he sometimes seems to shrug his arms forward and bob his head when he breathes. I notice this behavior most often when I've been handling him or he witnesses me watching him. Could it be that he's breathing more heavily because he's nervous around me still (after all, it's only been a week)? Or does this suggest labored breathing? He rarely does it when I've seen him walking around unaware of my presence. I'm so paranoid about respiratory infections it makes me nervous.
Also, Pumpkin has made on several instances a clacking noise with his jaw (he moves his mouth noticably when he makes the sound). This has happened twice during his soaks and once in his enclosure. Is this a normal type of vocalization?
Otherwise, Pumpkin seems very active, enjoys sunning himself, eats voraciously and passed a healthy looking stool in his bath a couple days ago. He's also passed two small urates, the first larger, and has peed a few times during his soaks. I'm still in school but when I get home I'm able to observe him and he seems to enjoy strutting around his enclosure during the day before he beds down, which is usually around 7 or a bit earlier (lights are usually on between 6-7 am and I turn them off at 9).
Could the mannerisms I've described be any evidence of a respiratory infection or other issue?
Firstly, he sometimes seems to shrug his arms forward and bob his head when he breathes. I notice this behavior most often when I've been handling him or he witnesses me watching him. Could it be that he's breathing more heavily because he's nervous around me still (after all, it's only been a week)? Or does this suggest labored breathing? He rarely does it when I've seen him walking around unaware of my presence. I'm so paranoid about respiratory infections it makes me nervous.
Also, Pumpkin has made on several instances a clacking noise with his jaw (he moves his mouth noticably when he makes the sound). This has happened twice during his soaks and once in his enclosure. Is this a normal type of vocalization?
Otherwise, Pumpkin seems very active, enjoys sunning himself, eats voraciously and passed a healthy looking stool in his bath a couple days ago. He's also passed two small urates, the first larger, and has peed a few times during his soaks. I'm still in school but when I get home I'm able to observe him and he seems to enjoy strutting around his enclosure during the day before he beds down, which is usually around 7 or a bit earlier (lights are usually on between 6-7 am and I turn them off at 9).
Could the mannerisms I've described be any evidence of a respiratory infection or other issue?
