1. Welcome! Are you interested in tortoises? If so, we invite you to join our community! Our community is the #1 place for tortoise keepers to talk online. Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your tortoise and enclosure, and discuss any tortoise topic with other tortoise keepers. Get started today!

Tortoise aggression

Discussion in 'Hermanns tortoises' started by Jenminer, Oct 7, 2019.

Help Support Tortoise Forums by donating:

  1. Jenminer

    Jenminer Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2017
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location (City and/or State):
    Northern California
    My young Herman’s tortoise has been trying to bite our hands and feet lately. Very actively trying to run a hand or foot down and take a bite. This animal is a little over a year and a half old and was moved to a larger enclosure a few weeks ago, but the aggressive behavior started a little before that. I don’t know if it’s hormonal or because he/she feels more confident now or is defending its new home. Any thoughts on that?
    Jenminer, Oct 7, 2019
    #1
  2. Tom

    Tom The Dog Trainer 5 Year Member Platinum Tortoise Club

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2010
    Messages:
    45,955
    Likes Received:
    26,264
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location (City and/or State):
    Southern California
    (These ads do not appear for registered members.)
    Could be hormonal/territorial, or could be because it thinks you are food. Some of them are just this way. I don't know how to make it happen, or make it go away if this is the case. You just have to work around it.
    Tom, Oct 7, 2019
    #2
    Billna the 2 likes this.
  3. ZEROPILOT

    ZEROPILOT Well-Known Member 5 Year Member Platinum Tortoise Club Tortoise Club

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2014
    Messages:
    19,801
    Likes Received:
    35,156
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location (City and/or State):
    South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
    I have one tortoise that behaves this way and four that do not.
    The one that does is my dominant female. But she has always acted this way.
    ZEROPILOT, Oct 7, 2019
    #3
  4. Yvonne G

    Yvonne G Old Timer TFO Admin 10 Year Member! Platinum Tortoise Club

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2008
    Messages:
    82,359
    Likes Received:
    55,846
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location (City and/or State):
    Clovis, CA
    We always talk about Russian tortoises being so scrappy, but the same might be said for the hermanns and greeks. They usually try to let you know you're not wanted in their territory.
    Yvonne G, Oct 8, 2019
    #4
    Billna the 2 likes this.
  5. Jenminer

    Jenminer Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2017
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location (City and/or State):
    Northern California
    Oh well, good thing it’s a small tortoise. Still love the little brat, I’ll make a beware of tortoise sign for the enclosure.
    Jenminer, Oct 8, 2019
    #5
  6. ascott

    ascott Well-Known Member 5 Year Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2011
    Messages:
    16,147
    Likes Received:
    2,799
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location (City and/or State):
    Apple Valley, California
    If the tort associates you with food then what you describe is expected. If you are reaching into the enclosure and placing food and the tort gets in the habit of this thing that delivers food, it may then begin to do what you describe...and feed, well those can be wiggling toes or bright yummy colors attached...which would also generate the behavior you describe.

    If you have ever had snakes and feed live food and do so from your hand---it is not surprising for a snake to begin to strike at the hand that feeds it....just routine and survival instincts and not generally personal... :)
    ascott, Oct 10, 2019
    #6
  7. Jenminer

    Jenminer Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2017
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location (City and/or State):
    Northern California
    Didn’t figure it was personal and I like the idea of my little crumb snatcher thinking I’m food instead of an invader. Although this tort will chase my cats too,,, whatever. Maybe something will change, maybe it won’t, still love the little thing. Thanks for your opinion.
    Jenminer, Oct 11, 2019
    #7
  8. LyndaAnna

    LyndaAnna New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2019
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location (City and/or State):
    Preston
    My 3 1/2 yr old suddenly started doing this, too. When I moved things or ruffled the surface in the enclosure he would rush towards my fingers and try to bite. I put it down to hormones as it was not long after this he started flashing and I determined that Daisy is in fact a male - we haven't changed his name as he doesn't realise its a girls name. haha
    LyndaAnna, Oct 20, 2019
    #8
Similar Threads: Tortoise aggression
Forum Title Date
Hermanns tortoises Tortoises and aggression.. Jun 22, 2008
Hermanns tortoises When should I upgrade my tortoise enclosure? Dec 5, 2019
Hermanns tortoises Worried about my tortoise Nov 22, 2019
Hermanns tortoises First winter with Hermann's Tortoise Nov 14, 2019
Hermanns tortoises New Tortoise Member - Hermann's Dalmatian Nov 12, 2019

Share This Page