Volks dancing? Is it normal?

[Volks]

Volks is a Greek, and is around 7 or 8 months old, been with us for 4 months now.
I notice that sometimes if I rub its back, it would tighten up its all four legs tensely. Does this signify anything?
Do yours do this too?

 

[COmtnLady]

Welcome to The Tortoise Forum!


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For your own peace of mind don't listen to the "advice" given by other sources (like: pet shops, social media sites, people at reptile shows, many of the YouTube videos, many of the care books, and even most veterinarians). They're still using old info that doesn't work as well as what you'll find here.

Everyone will do their best to help you help your tortoise have the most optimal and healthy life possible.

Read the info in the links offered. All those head-exploding details will show you how to help your tortoise to thrive.

And, ask questions.

Hint:
Run it by the other members before you buy new equipment or whatever - their expertise will save you a lot of time, stress, money, and damage to your tortoises.


That second paragraph is really important.

So many sources elsewhere repeat the old info that only had marginally acceptable outcomes. The expert members here have discovered much better ways, through hands-on experiences and through controlled studies (much of which is mentioned/explained/documented here on the site - if you can find it. Frequently its in a topic with a title that isn't intuitive. Sorry.).

Veterinarian schools don't spend any length of time on tortoises at all. They only spend a minimal amount of time on reptiles in general. As with many new members that come here, veterinarians often expect a "one size fits all" to work with tortoises - completely unaware of the differences between the species. For example, all horses eat approximately the same foods - hays and grains, possibly a bit of other vegetation, and the occasional apple and carrot as treats. BUT !, with tortoises, their dietary needs depend entirely upon the species. A species of tortoise that evolved on the grasslands, cleverly enough, eats grasses and hay as an adult, but, a type that evolved in or near a jungle can't digest grasses very well, but eat fruits without any damage to their digestive systems - which almost no other species of tortoise can do. Some species need very high humidity, ALL hatchlings need high humidity, most vets don't know this and tell people to keep their tortoises in human-room temps. They recommend tiny cages and not enough water. And most, when they haven't a clue as to what is causing you to bring your tortoise to them, prescribe vitamin shots that don't help, probably harm, your tort. Some vets can't recognize a Hermann's from a Sulcata.

Pet stores are 98% interested in selling you things (much of which is harmful to your tort). They also get their info from out of date books. And many keepers have gotten their info from these same sources. Remember those games of "telephone" where fifteen people sit in a circle and whisper what they got from the person on one side of them, to the person on the other side? Remember how successful getting the accurate info to the last person was?

And Social Media is Social Media, egos and trolls.

Don't pay attention to most of the info "out there". Settle in here.

______________________________________


I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. Could you post a video of what he's doing?
The other comment I'd make is : think like a tortoise. The way they survive in the wild is by hiding, and they consider animals larger than they are as probably being predators. It could be your tortoise is concerned you're going to grab him or eat him.

Lets see what some of the others think!

We love pictures, post some of your little guy. And of his enclosure.


Welcome aboard.

 

[Volks]

I am not able to attached the video file I recorded through my phone. And I couldn't see which extensions are allowed neither. Please assist.
But here are some shots taken from the video.

It would held up its buttocks way very high.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I am not able to attached the video file I recorded through my phone. And I couldn't see which extensions are allowed neither. Please assist.
But here are some shits taken from the video.

It would held up its buttocks way very high.

With a regular account you can share a video by posting it on some other platform like YouTube and then posting a link here.

 

[zolasmum]

I think it is very common for a tortoise to respond to being scratched, stroked or touched in any way on the back part of their shell - it often seems to enjoy the feeling, and will respond in a way that seems to encourage it to go on, wiggling the back half of their body, for instance, or raising their body up towards the place the stimulus is coming from. Don't worry about it !
Angie

 

[Tom]

I am not able to attached the video file I recorded through my phone. And I couldn't see which extensions are allowed neither. Please assist.
But here are some shots taken from the video.

It would held up its buttocks way very high.

That is a tortoises way of showing annoyance. The tortoise is telling you it is not a receptive female and it doesn't want to be bred. Its likely a male.

 

[Volks]

I think it is very common for a tortoise to respond to being scratched, stroked or touched in any way on the back part of their shell - it often seems to enjoy the feeling, and will respond in a way that seems to encourage it to go on, wiggling the back half of their body, for instance, or raising their body up towards the place the stimulus is coming from. Don't worry about it !
Angie

That is a tortoises way of showing annoyance. The tortoise is telling you it is not a receptive female and it doesn't want to be bred. Its likely a male.

Wow, it is showing this trait already at this young age ha. And I am not really sure if Volks is a male or female yet, though.

 

[Godzilla the Tortoise]

That is a tortoises way of showing annoyance. The tortoise is telling you it is not a receptive female and it doesn't want to be bred. Its likely a male.

Interesting, there is a YouTuber called ThroughTheLeaves who specifically sprays their tortoise with water to get them to do this. Would that actually be bad/ stressful for the tortoise? (I don’t do this)

 

[Tom]

Interesting, there is a YouTuber called ThroughTheLeaves who specifically sprays their tortoise with water to get them to do this. Would that actually be bad/ stressful for the tortoise? (I don’t do this)

Yes. It's like grabbing a male bullfrog. They make noise to tell other frogs they are a male and you can't breed them.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Interesting, there is a YouTuber called ThroughTheLeaves who specifically sprays their tortoise with water to get them to do this. Would that actually be bad/ stressful for the tortoise? (I don’t do this)

You might find this interesting: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/shell-scratches.217349/

 

[Godzilla the Tortoise]

You might find this interesting: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/shell-scratches.217349/

That is quite interesting. So, nobody knows if it is 'bad' or causes stress per se, but it is not known whether or not they actually like it either.

 

[Fili]

My cat does this if you stroke her back - haven't tried with the tortoise...

 

[_The_Beast_]

My tortoise sometimes seeks out things to rub his rump on and he wiggles it back and forth like he's scratching an itch. I do it for him sometimes and when he's had enough or if he doesn't want it he promptly walks away. I think whether your tortoise is getting it's wiggle on, walking away from you, or tensing up without wiggling is important.

 

[TammyJ]

Has anyone here thought to very simply ASK the tortoises whether they like it or not?

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Well, I've tried. But the answer was ambiguous...