Why do torts bite?

Bride2b · 20-10-2007, 04:37 PM

Hi

I have a problem with one of my torts out of the blue it has decided to bite anything that resembles a tortoise it has suddenly become very aggresive, so I have seperated it from the others, is this a dominance thing?

EJ · 20-10-2007, 04:40 PM

It's hungry. Not very often does a tortoise bite out of agression.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bride2b

Hi

I have a problem with one of my torts out of the blue it has decided to bite anything that resembles a tortoise it has suddenly become very aggresive, so I have seperated it from the others, is this a dominance thing?

piglet · 20-10-2007, 04:54 PM

Male tortoises who bite as part of a sexual courtship can be terrible biting fingers and toes of there keeper, I had a tgg male handed in yesterday who has bitten my foot twice today

D

Bride2b · 20-10-2007, 04:57 PM

Piglet,

Is it a mating thing, biting, as it keeps climbing on top of the other torts ,that was yesterday, today its biting it isnt hungry.

Pussygalore · 20-10-2007, 05:13 PM

Sid my TGI bites my hubby if he gets the chance, he's not hungry and I think he's showing who's top tort, he's not bitten me yet but will shell bang my foot if he has the chance, he fastened on kevins finger and he had to drag him out of his house before he could get sid to let go, he didn't break the skin.

Bride2b · 20-10-2007, 05:22 PM

Oh dear your poor hubby, my tort isnt aggresive with me, I hope it isnt a permanent thing.

Pussygalore · 20-10-2007, 06:10 PM

well sid was only doing what I'd like to but daren't

**egyptiandan64** · 20-10-2007, 06:18 PM

It can sometimes become a permant thing Tanya. I have a male T. g. ibera whose sole aim in life is to bite a certain female. It's not little love bites either, it's bite rip and tear till your bleeding from all the missing scales on your legs. He had 15 minutes unsupervised and he just made a mess of her front legs. She's fine now and he is all alone

Danny

piglet · 20-10-2007, 07:39 PM

Bride2b yes mating behaviour, aggression is usually the key males as Dan has said bite the females into submission, of course in captivity this has to be supervised in a fenced in enclosure where a female may have difficulty escaping the constant amorous attentions of a randy male.
Aggression can also be dominant issue males will fight aggressively to form a peck order,
Your tortoise is doing one of the above he either symbolises you as a prospective partner or he is telling you he is dominant tortoise round here so back off
D

EJ · 20-10-2007, 08:12 PM

While biting is associated with breeding it is far from the norm outside of breeding behavior.

Both males and females will do this but again this is unusual behavior outside of breeding behavior.

There is one other circumstance and that is when tortoises are over crowded but, again, this is not the norm.

Normally when a tortoise goes for toes and fingers... it is hungry.

20-10-2007, 04:37 PM	#1
Bride2b Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,301	Why do torts bite? Hi I have a problem with one of my torts out of the blue it has decided to bite anything that resembles a tortoise it has suddenly become very aggresive, so I have seperated it from the others, is this a dominance thing? __________________

20-10-2007, 04:57 PM	#4
Bride2b Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,301	Piglet, Is it a mating thing, biting, as it keeps climbing on top of the other torts ,that was yesterday, today its biting it isnt hungry. __________________

20-10-2007, 05:22 PM	#6
Bride2b Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,301	Oh dear your poor hubby, my tort isnt aggresive with me, I hope it isnt a permanent thing. __________________

20-10-2007, 06:18 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	It can sometimes become a permant thing Tanya. I have a male T. g. ibera whose sole aim in life is to bite a certain female. It's not little love bites either, it's bite rip and tear till your bleeding from all the missing scales on your legs. He had 15 minutes unsupervised and he just made a mess of her front legs. She's fine now and he is all alone Danny __________________

20-10-2007, 08:12 PM	#10
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	While biting is associated with breeding it is far from the norm outside of breeding behavior. Both males and females will do this but again this is unusual behavior outside of breeding behavior. There is one other circumstance and that is when tortoises are over crowded but, again, this is not the norm. Normally when a tortoise goes for toes and fingers... it is hungry. __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

20-10-2007, 04:54 PM	#3
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Male tortoises who bite as part of a sexual courtship can be terrible biting fingers and toes of there keeper, I had a tgg male handed in yesterday who has bitten my foot twice today D

20-10-2007, 05:13 PM	#5
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	Sid my TGI bites my hubby if he gets the chance, he's not hungry and I think he's showing who's top tort, he's not bitten me yet but will shell bang my foot if he has the chance, he fastened on kevins finger and he had to drag him out of his house before he could get sid to let go, he didn't break the skin.

20-10-2007, 06:10 PM	#7
Pussygalore Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 6,479	well sid was only doing what I'd like to but daren't

20-10-2007, 07:39 PM	#9
piglet Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,976	Bride2b yes mating behaviour, aggression is usually the key males as Dan has said bite the females into submission, of course in captivity this has to be supervised in a fenced in enclosure where a female may have difficulty escaping the constant amorous attentions of a randy male. Aggression can also be dominant issue males will fight aggressively to form a peck order, Your tortoise is doing one of the above he either symbolises you as a prospective partner or he is telling you he is dominant tortoise round here so back off D

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