Normal behavior??

[Melissacoop]

So my little guy is 1.5 years now. He’s alittle over 500 grams. We got off to a slow start but he is gaining and starting to really eat a lot!
He started about a month or two ago this behavior of moving quickly at us when we go in his enclosure in the morning to feed him. I can’t really call it ramming because he doesn’t get that close. I’m assuming he’s being dominant when he’s in his enclosure because he gets a lot of free time on the patio and he doesn’t do it any other time.
He shows no other odd behavior really. I hand feed him daily and supervise his outdoor time and soak daily. So he is very used to being handled and responds to my voice. So, my question is whatanything, should I do when he does this?
I usually just reach over and pet his shell and kinda ignore it or just put his food down and move away if I’m in a hurry. ??‍♀️
Thanks in advance!

 

[Yvonne G]

Totally normal.

 

[JoesMum]

The enclosure is barren. There’s only 1 place to shelter. He can see all the boundaries. Take a look at the enclosures forum threads and grt some ideas on how to break up sight lines so the enclosure feels bigger and safer for your tortoise.

 

[Melissacoop]

Totally normal.

Thanks. I thought so!

 

[Melissacoop]

The enclosure is barren. There’s only 1 place to shelter. He can see all the boundaries. Take a look at the enclosures forum threads and grt some ideas on how to break up sight lines so the enclosure feels bigger and safer for your tortoise.

It is open but he has two hides that he uses and also buries himself in the substrate which is 3-4 inches deep for his digging pleasure. Anything I plant in there he bulldozes. Lol.

 

[KarenSoCal]

How about putting plants in in their pots? He'll still nibble, and he may move them, but can't flatten them. He'll really like getting under overhanging leaves. Try pothos, spider plants, or Boston fern. They also help keep humidity up.

 

[JoesMum]

The scret with plants is sink the pot into the substrate with about an inch of rim showing. They don’t get bulldozed that way. Also don’t put everything at the edges ogf the enclosure on the marching route. Leave a totoise-width gap