Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i discovered recently that junior might be tickish. i've petted his shell before, but the other day i tried lightly scratching with my nail tips... and as i got closer to the butt end of his shell, he did a push-up!

he'll pull in his back legs and push out with his front legs as i do this. any ideas why?

Better yet.

How many have gone out and tried it on their tortoise after reading such post?

I have.

And every species of tortoise I have does this same dance.

Food for thought. The spinal column runs down the top of the carapace and down to the back legs. It is arond the spot of the area where it branches out to the back legs where you get the greatest effect. (2 central scutes up from the rear)

I don't know... I find it interesting.

What's really strange is the idea that you would tickle your tortoise.

What's even stranger is duplicating the action to see if it's true.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I noticed this a long time ago, but figured people might think I was weird if I said anything about it. At least now I know Im not alone

Grape

I had a redfoot that really seemed to enjoy this sort of thing. It preformed the neatest butt-wiggle when I rubbed the back of his shell.

All of my torts now seem to enjoy this, except for that mean, nasty cb Russian. Doing this to him makes him hiss & jump.
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O.K. I'll go next.. I suppose no one talks to their tortoises either!?!? You give them names.. set them up in the lap of luxury that they would NEVER see in the wild.. EJ even feeds his Doves.. (gotcha Ed.. we all love you).. any other confessions out there???

You gotta love 'em!

Terry

but I have fed my tortoises doves but it wasn't intentional.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Guilty as charged, I do talk to them all the time. I go to a great books college, so my tortoises have been read everything from Plato and Aristotle, to the Bible, Plutarch, etc. They are great because they just sit, listen, and keep me company. Does anyone else read to their torts?

Also the lap of luxary is also very true, if I took as good a care of myself as I have done for them, then I think I would be much better off. Lol

Grape

.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

It's all in knowing how to get the best from everyone.. Ed.

You gotta love 'em!

Terry

Can't say that I've ever read to them.. I have prayed for them.. that's about the same as reading The Bible to them.. Amen??

You gotta love 'em!

Terry

i've not read to mine, but i do talk to him quite a bit, as does my boyfriend. we jokingly call him our "son" as well (which is where his name "junior" originated)!

... don't forget top of their head and under their chin (sounds like Fifi and Dodo isn't it?) just watchout for that JAW...

i just brought home a salcota tortoise. Why? Because I picked her up and "tickled" her and she kicked her back leg just like a dog. She's now my greatest amusement and I can usually be found cleaning her shell with a toothbrush and watching her kick away. Now if only she'd pant and fetch....
Sera
S and M Reptiles and Exotics

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