What's This Behaviour?

Caroline McI · 07-10-2009, 10:29 AM

I've had Cookie for almost 8 yrs, and although I feel I know her personality pretty well, I saw her do something the past couple of days that she's never done before.

All I can liken it to is, when female turtles are laying eggs, they try to cover up the eggs by kicking sand on top of them. Well, that's what Cookie appeared to be doing. She seemed like she was trying to dig down in her enclosure, and was spreading her back legs really wide, then closing her legs again, almost over each other, and making a wee pile of soil \ aspen over her tail and rear end.

She didn't seems upset in any way, just like she was "determined". She's out in the garden at the minute, quite contended, and her usual bright, curious self.

(By the way, apparently she's a wee boy, but I'm so used to calling her "she")

**Bindi** · 07-10-2009, 12:10 PM

It sounds a little like she's trying to cover eggs. Is there any possibility she's laid any?

Caroline McI · 07-10-2009, 12:36 PM

I watched her (him), and looked for anything, even a big pooh, but nothing to see, Bindi. I'm just curious cos she's supposed to be a boy.

**Bindi** · 07-10-2009, 12:54 PM

To be honest Caroline, I've not seen a tort do this first hand, it just sounded similar. How old is Cookie, and have you had him ID'd recently (just in case he's had a sex change!!)

Caroline McI · 07-10-2009, 01:59 PM

The D.O.B on the certificate is either 2000 or 2001. It's not clear because the 0 at the end looks like it's almost like a capital D

Kirkie · 07-10-2009, 03:23 PM

I'm with Bindi it does sound like "phantom" nest digging. I had a tortoise do it for a short while after actual egg laying this year. Went through the motions, like reflex leg actions without actually looking for a nesting site.

Caroline McI · 07-10-2009, 04:44 PM

Had a bloomin' power cut there!

Yeah, Kirkie, I've heard of that. She (he) did it again earlier on, but went to her bed during the power cut, bless her. I just didn't want to think of her being stressed about something. I'll keep an eye on her to see what happens, thanks

Kirkie · 07-10-2009, 10:59 PM

Have you ever posted any ID pic's for Cookie? Should be easy to establish if she is indeed a she at that age. You could try making a deep pile of fairly compacted soil in her enclosure near the basking area, see if this encourages cookie to dig.

Or it could all be in her head

**egyptiandan64** · 07-10-2009, 11:37 PM

All IDed Dave

Cookie is a male with a geneticly short tail.

Using both legs at once is no nesting behavior I've ever seen.

Females always use one leg at a time, even when they are covering a nest.
Not sure exactly what it is Caroline. He may just be stretching his legs.

Danny

Kirkie · 07-10-2009, 11:43 PM

Ahh, the old gentically short tail ploy. I stand corrcted. Carry on....

Maybe he's a box turtle, they do it.

07-10-2009, 10:29 AM	#1
Caroline McI Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Scotland, moved to Sussex (sunnier for Cookie) Posts: 649	What's This Behaviour? I've had Cookie for almost 8 yrs, and although I feel I know her personality pretty well, I saw her do something the past couple of days that she's never done before. All I can liken it to is, when female turtles are laying eggs, they try to cover up the eggs by kicking sand on top of them. Well, that's what Cookie appeared to be doing. She seemed like she was trying to dig down in her enclosure, and was spreading her back legs really wide, then closing her legs again, almost over each other, and making a wee pile of soil \ aspen over her tail and rear end. She didn't seems upset in any way, just like she was "determined". She's out in the garden at the minute, quite contended, and her usual bright, curious self. (By the way, apparently she's a wee boy, but I'm so used to calling her "she") __________________ *********************** Love me, love Cookie R.I.P Lottie, we miss you x

07-10-2009, 12:10 PM	#2
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	It sounds a little like she's trying to cover eggs. Is there any possibility she's laid any? __________________

07-10-2009, 12:36 PM	#3
Caroline McI Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Scotland, moved to Sussex (sunnier for Cookie) Posts: 649	I watched her (him), and looked for anything, even a big pooh, but nothing to see, Bindi. I'm just curious cos she's supposed to be a boy. __________________ *********************** Love me, love Cookie R.I.P Lottie, we miss you x

07-10-2009, 12:54 PM	#4
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	To be honest Caroline, I've not seen a tort do this first hand, it just sounded similar. How old is Cookie, and have you had him ID'd recently (just in case he's had a sex change!!) __________________

07-10-2009, 01:59 PM	#5
Caroline McI Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Scotland, moved to Sussex (sunnier for Cookie) Posts: 649	The D.O.B on the certificate is either 2000 or 2001. It's not clear because the 0 at the end looks like it's almost like a capital D __________________ *********************** Love me, love Cookie R.I.P Lottie, we miss you x

07-10-2009, 03:23 PM	#6
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	I'm with Bindi it does sound like "phantom" nest digging. I had a tortoise do it for a short while after actual egg laying this year. Went through the motions, like reflex leg actions without actually looking for a nesting site.

07-10-2009, 04:44 PM	#7
Caroline McI Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Scotland, moved to Sussex (sunnier for Cookie) Posts: 649	Had a bloomin' power cut there! Yeah, Kirkie, I've heard of that. She (he) did it again earlier on, but went to her bed during the power cut, bless her. I just didn't want to think of her being stressed about something. I'll keep an eye on her to see what happens, thanks __________________ *********************** Love me, love Cookie R.I.P Lottie, we miss you x

07-10-2009, 10:59 PM	#8
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Have you ever posted any ID pic's for Cookie? Should be easy to establish if she is indeed a she at that age. You could try making a deep pile of fairly compacted soil in her enclosure near the basking area, see if this encourages cookie to dig. Or it could all be in her head

07-10-2009, 11:37 PM	#9
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	All IDed Dave Cookie is a male with a geneticly short tail. Using both legs at once is no nesting behavior I've ever seen. Females always use one leg at a time, even when they are covering a nest. Not sure exactly what it is Caroline. He may just be stretching his legs. Danny __________________

07-10-2009, 11:43 PM	#10
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Ahh, the old gentically short tail ploy. I stand corrcted. Carry on.... Maybe he's a box turtle, they do it.

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