Spur-thigh female headbutting

[tanzc69]

Hi everyone
I have a 5 year old female spur thigh tortoise but she isn't very friendly
She is always trying to get out of her tortoise table and then we I do let her out for a walk about she actually chases you, sometimes bites your feet and headbutts you quite aggressively
Why is she doing this?
Any help or advice would be appreciated

[sandy]

Originally Posted by tanzc69

Hi everyone
I have a 5 year old female spur thigh tortoise but she isn't very friendly
She is always trying to get out of her tortoise table and then we I do let her out for a walk about she actually chases you, sometimes bites your feet and headbutts you quite aggressively
Why is she doing this?
Any help or advice would be appreciated

Firstly are you sure your tortoise is female?
What species of spur is your tortoise?
There are a few different sub species of spurs.
How big is the table?
As generally its males that will head butt, and your tortoise has all the traits of a male:0)
The odd female will act like this, but not the norm.

[tanzc69]

well i was told she was female! Hermanns spur thighed
the table is 4ft x 2ft
Here is a link to a picture of her/his (!) underside
What do you think?
https://postimg.org/image/glu9ssag3/

[burnt toast]

Not a hermanns. You have a spur thigh, (Ibera I think) definate male. Which as Sandy suspected explains the behaviour. They can be teritorial. Welcome by the way

[tanzc69]

Lucky he has a unisex name then!
So what can I do about this behaviour then?

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by burnt toast

Not a hermanns. You have a spur thigh, (Ibera I think) definate male. Which as Sandy suspected explains the behaviour. They can be teritorial. Welcome by the way

I agree , spur thigh , male ( probably Ibera) you could try giving him things to hump, like an old shoe, or even an ornamental tortoise, which I have found my old male Herman has enjoyed , in fact he got quite amorous with a garden ornament tortoise

[sandy]

Originally Posted by tanzc69

Lucky he has a unisex name then!
So what can I do about this behaviour then?

If you can post a picture of the top of him it will help us tell if he is ibera or graeca:0)
And you cannot stop him being like he is, getting a couple of females might help (one is not enough for any male, as they can do a lot of damage to their shells) the other thing is more space, which is difficult this time of the year, when its cold and not easy to get them outside.
My iberas are gradually getting up, two up three to go:0)

[Jan W]

Welcome and to your little male tort!

[tanzc69]

i think my husband would leave home if i got any more! Bo does his head in with all the chasing and headbutting
Here is a link to the top of him - https://postimg.org/image/dnsma990h/
Looks like i am just going to have to put up with his behavior then
At least its getting warmer so he can go outside more
Thanks everyone

[CherryBrandy]

Welcome to the forum ! yes get him outside ! my Ibera wrecks the place when enclosed and will have your finger off feeding him on some days. But when ourisde he does tend to carm down a bit. Boys im afraid, cant live with them cant live without them....CB