Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have things such as a thermometer suction cupped to the inside of the tank. My two RES love snapping it against the side of the tank to get attention. If they get bored or don't get attention, they pull it off the float it around.

So, I went to Walmart last night and got them a ping pong ball (they are not near large enough to even begin to get their mouth around it). They went nuts over it as soon as I put it in. I think they thought it was food at first. Once they realized it wasn't, one turtle gets on each side of it, and they bite it back and forth. Or one backs the ball into the corner and bites it to himself. And they had just begun bumping it with their feet this morning. It is so funny to watch! And no smacking thermometer sounds!!

Very cute!! It is definitely a good stimulation for them but I assure you they are only treating it as something to eat and not playing ball with eachother. Same thing with snapping the thermometer. Not trying to get attention from you -- just trying to eat the thermometer.

Very good thinking to get them that ping pong ball. The stimulation is good for them and if they are hungry (which they all seem to be 24 hours a day!!) they will bite the ball rather than eachother.

It's cute to watch them play eh? I gave my softshells various hockey pucks (regular and street) and they go nuts over them (AND spend less time breaking their filter, stripping silicone and generally making life difficult). While much of what they do is hunting, I have also caught my biggest softie spinning her hockey puck on the tip of her nose, much like a magician with plates. You can't tell me that's hunting behaviour! They just get bored...

Alex