I wonder why my 60 year old tortoise, has started biting rocks in his deignated area. Never done this before?

Question

My tortoise has started biting at the rocks in his surroundings. I have had him for 20 years and he has never done this before. I thought he may be feeling frisky. But I wonder if anyone else has a tortoise that displays this habit.

Answer 1

He might need more calcium in his diet. It is their desperate way of obtaining it in the wild.

Answer 2

Im not completely sure but more than likely he is ready to mate. I have seen tortoises bite at rocks, pots and pans..and various other things right before they mount it and try to mate with it.

If it seems like he is hurting himself on the rocks..remove them, he may be trying to move them to a better spot...try moving the rocks around and if he still does it its probably a mating behavior.

Answer 3

he might be trying to get more calcium/minerals in his diet. Replace the rock with a cuttlebone/mineral block. Also he might be trying to hump...