What is my mediterranean tortoise up to?

by Tuchi
(South Wales UK)

Our Male mediteranean tortoise of over 25 years keeps on attacking my shoe'd foot by head butting it, bitting it and then mounting it as if to have sex.He will chase me around the garden and hunt me down to repeat the act. What is he up to?

Comments for What is my mediterranean tortoise up to?

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Aug 31, 2018
 Hes mad
by: Anonymous

Its a territory thing. The tortoise thinks its his yard. Its kinda funny actually.
Sep 02, 2015
 Tortoise Breeding Behaviour
by: Shelly

As the others have replied here, this is likely breeding behaviour. The tortoise is trying to mate with whatever it is trying to mount.

Keep it slow and steady.
Sep 01, 2015
 Tortoise head butt
by: Anonymous

My 2 year old marginated tortoise just started doing this today. Biting, then ramming, but not big enough yet to mount my shoe. Can't find an answer as to why he/she is doing this.
Aug 14, 2011
 Seriously
by: Felicity

As I say, my tortoise is also doing this, but she is a female, and my feet are clad in flipflops so couldnt possibly be mistaken for another tortoise! She is chasibg me all round the garden. Is it pissible for a female to be trying to mate, or could this be territorial behaviour?
Aug 14, 2011
 Seriously
by: Anonymous

Seriously, this is like a dog mounting someone's leg. It really is trying to mate with the shoe. At the very least, it is treating it like it's another tortoise.
Aug 14, 2011
 Attacking my shoe
by: Felicity

Hi

Did you ever get any sensible replies to this? I ask because my Spur-thighed tortoise is doing exactly the same as you describe.
Apr 21, 2011
 rutting tortoise
by: Anonymous

He wants to mate with your shoe. Probably won't be productive, though.

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