Have you ever been minding your own business going about your daily routine when all of a sudden out of nowhere your tortoise starts chasing you? It can be a really startling and confusing experience especially if you’ve never had it happen to you before. But why does your tortoise chase you?
There are a few different reasons why your tortoise might chase you. One possibility is that your tortoise is simply curious about you and wants to explore. If this is the case you might notice that your tortoise only chases you when you first enter the room or approach its enclosure. Once your tortoise has had a chance to get a good look at you it will usually lose interest and go back to whatever it was doing before.
Another possibility is that your tortoise is trying to get your attention. This is most likely to happen if you have been ignoring your tortoise or if it feels like it isn’t getting enough attention from you. If your tortoise is chasing you around in an attempt to get your attention the best thing to do is to spend some time interacting with it. This could mean offering it food petting it or just spending some time talking to it. Once your tortoise feels like it has your attention it will likely stop chasing you.
A third possibility is that your tortoise is confused and doesn’t know that you’re not a threat. This is more likely to happen if you have a new tortoise or if your tortoise has never been around people before. In these cases your tortoise may see you as a potential predator and chase you in an attempt to escape. If this is the case it’s important to give your tortoise some time to get used to you and to the idea that you’re not going to hurt it. Once your tortoise feels comfortable around you it will likely stop chasing you.
Whatever the reason for your tortoise’s behavior it’s important to remember that tortoises are not naturally aggressive animals. If your tortoise is repeatedly chasing you or acting aggressively towards you it’s a good idea to consult with a veterinarian or experienced reptile keeper to rule out any potential medical causes. In most cases however your tortoise is simply behaving in a way that is natural for it and is nothing to be concerned about.
Why does my tortoise chase me?
Your tortoise may be chasing you for food water or attention.
