Sulcata behavior question

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Posted by Bill Moss on July 19, 2001 at 08:52:31:

I have a male sulcata, about 40 lbs (+/-) that, when presented with a water puddle such as from over watering the lawn, will lay in it and with his front legs, dig and splash mud and grass all over the place. He usually ends up coating the sides of his shell with mud too. He doesn't dig deep, as if he's burrowing, more like (if I may be allowed to anthopomorphize here) a kid playing in the mud - and wreck the grass!

I've watched this behavior and tried to draw parallels to what it would do for him in the wild. I thought, is he digging a little trench to hold water because it doesn't rain often in their natural habitat? But I don't see him drink from it and after a period of time, he gets up and walks away. I've also wondered if the goal is to get mud on the shell, like an elephant would, to protect it from the sun? I don't know.

Anyone have any ideas? Is this common behavior?

Bill

Follow Ups:

Re: Sulcata behavior question EJ 07/19/01 (0)
picture - typical sulcata mud bunny playing in a puddle... Niki 07/19/01 (1)
- Change the background, and that's my tort......Thanks N/P Bill Moss 07/19/01 (0)
Thermal regulation and parasite control ernie 07/19/01 (4)
- Do you know, offhand, how often a wild sulcata will see rain? n/p Bill Moss 07/19/01 (3)
  - Check this out. EJ 07/19/01 (2)
    - That gave me a better feel for their natural habitat. Thanks....np Bill Moss 07/20/01 (1)
      - I thought it would... EJ 07/20/01 (0)

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: I have a male sulcata, about 40 lbs (+/-) that, when presented with a water puddle such as from over watering the lawn, will lay in it and with his front legs, dig and splash mud and grass all over the place. He usually ends up coating the sides of his shell with mud too. He doesn't dig deep, as if he's burrowing, more like (if I may be allowed to anthopomorphize here) a kid playing in the mud - and wreck the grass! : I've watched this behavior and tried to draw parallels to what it would do for him in the wild. I thought, is he digging a little trench to hold water because it doesn't rain often in their natural habitat? But I don't see him drink from it and after a period of time, he gets up and walks away. I've also wondered if the goal is to get mud on the shell, like an elephant would, to protect it from the sun? I don't know. : Anyone have any ideas? Is this common behavior? : Bill

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