16-08-2009, 11:18 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,887
|
Box Turtles - Do they..can they?
Bit of a niche question I expect. My Ornate has very flexible back legs compared to the tortoises and I swear that when she.. err defecates.. she wipes her tail and cloacal area with her back legs? Am I imagining this or is something irritating her when she poo's that I need to get checked out? Her Cloaca seems ok , not sore or swollen.
|
17-08-2009, 03:21 AM | #2 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 14,171
|
Your not imagining it at all Dave Mine do the exact same thing
Danny
__________________
|
17-08-2009, 07:57 AM | #3 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 11,157
|
I do it all the time
|
17-08-2009, 09:01 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,887
|
|
17-08-2009, 09:03 AM | #5 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 11,157
|
Me or Pru?
|
17-08-2009, 09:08 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,887
|
Both of course! It lovely to see you have the personal hygine levels of a Box Turtle.
|
17-08-2009, 09:10 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 2,094
|
|
17-08-2009, 09:17 AM | #8 |
Super Moderator
Adult
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 11,157
|
I told you to keep quiet about that...
|
17-08-2009, 01:51 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,887
|
Right lets get this very important and informative thread back on track!
Why does she (Pru, not Bindi) do this then? Is it just for cleanliness, is it a marking territory thing (when she wonders round her patch does the smell rub off of her feet onto the ground) or does she just do it because she can (it's a good trick, I'd like to see a tortoise try and do it!) I assume its not territory as I doubt a little box turtle would want to leave a scent trail a predator could pick up. |
17-08-2009, 02:02 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 2,094
|
Quote:
Not sure that any significance has been placed on it though. Have you got the book "North American Box Turtles, a natural history", by C Kenneth Dodd jnr? I cannot remember if he hypothesis's on this behaviour? By the way, Bindi has lovely feet, even when they are dirty- |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|