Is this normal behaviour?

[jaqnovoa]

Our two tortoises have lived happily together for the last few months but today our female has been biting and headbutting our male. Is this normal behaviour? What does it mean?

 

[terryo]

I've had this happen with two males, but never with a female and male. How big is your enclosure? Do they have a lot of room to roam around and not get in each other way?

 

[Tom]

Our two tortoises have lived happily together for the last few months but today our female has been biting and headbutting our male. Is this normal behaviour? What does it mean?

Are you sure you don't have two males? How about some pics? What species? I was sure that I had a male and female sulcata for around nine years. I was wrong. Two males. They are now permanently separated.

 

[jaqnovoa]

They are Greek spur-thighed torts. We were informed by the experts on this forum that we had one male and one female so we're just going by that. Regarding the enclosure, we have just built an outside enclosure measuring 9m x 2.5m so I don't think space is a problem. I've attached pics of them if it helps.

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, Tia Maria's tail is kinda' short to be male, however, if memory serves, I think the male's cloaca is in a line while the female's in in a star or asterisk shape. And it looks like Tia Maria's cloaca is in a line. Male!

 

[jaqnovoa]

This time I have included a picture of them together. I know it's a bit undignified but bearing in mind how much bigger Maria is don't you think her tail is very short??
Also, what is the "cloaca"?

 

[Itort]

Cloaca is the unversial reproductive/excretory organ of a nonmammal vetebrate.

 

[Yvonne G]

Also, what is the "cloaca"?

Besides what Larry said...its the place where the poop and pee comes out in the tail.