Do Tortoises Bite? (4 Possible Reasons)

While tortoises are great pets to own you have to remember they are still an animal, and animals are unpredictable in nature. It’s important to understand the characteristics of your pet so you can understand if something is normal or it’s something that you should be concerned about. One thing we always get asked about, particularly from parents, is do tortoises bite people? This can be a worry for parents with small children, let’s find out.

Do tortoises bite? Yes tortoises do bite and they can do it for a number of different reasons. Your tortoise might bite you if it mistakes your finger for food, this can happen if you have some ruminants of your torts dinner on your hand. Tortoises are extremely territorial so they can also bite to try and display some dominance. Other reasons include hormonal changes, boredom, or curiosity.

In this article we’re going to cover in more detail why tortoises bite humans, is a tortoise bite dangerous, and other important topics so continue reading!

Why Do Tortoises Bite Humans?

Tortoises can bite a human for a variety of different reasons, each different scenario the tortoise will have its own reasoning for biting. They include :

  • It thinks your food
  • As a defence mechanism
  • Hormonal changes
  • To establish dominance

Let’s look at them in further detail.

It Thinks Your Food

Your tortoise might bite your finger if it mistakes you for food. This can happen if you have some food residue leftover on your fingers, whether it’s their own food or some food you were having. If you have an omnivore species such as a Red or Yellow-Footed tortoise, wiggling your finger around them might confuse them for an insect such as a worm.

As A Defence Mechanism

As tortoises are usually solitary creatures they love their own space and privacy. Your tortoise might bite you if they feel slightly threatened by your presence. This will more than likely occur if your tortoise is new and you both don’t have much of a bond yet.

If you’re trying to touch or pick up your tortoise and they bite you, it’s a sign they aren’t yet comfortable with you. The only thing you can do here is be patient, with time your tortoise will be more accustomed to your scent and presence.

Hormonal Changes

If your tortoise is entering or in a mating season they are more likely to bite you due to the changes in hormones. During this time tortoises are known to be more aggressive and moody so its best to just feed them and let them be alone,

I take this approach with my wife and it works!

To Establish Dominance

In the wild, tortoises are extremely territorial animals and once they are domesticated this doesn’t really change. Your tortoise might bite in order to establish dominance, particularly if they are male. However they usually bite other tortoises for dominance reasons, it’s not unusual for them to feel threatened by a human also.

Why Do Tortoises Bite Themselves?

Tortoises don’t only bite humans and each other, but can sometimes be found biting themselves. They usually bite their own legs and it can happen for two reasons :

  • A skin infection
  • They are shedding

A Skin Infection

Skin infections can be itchy and irritating for tortoises which leads to them biting their own skin for some relief. Tortoises are prone to skin and shell conditions, usually abscesses which usually cause swelling. Take a closer look at the area in which your tortoise is biting and see if you can notice any swelling or red areas.

If you notice any signs of a skin infection you should contact your vet.

They Are Shedding

A tortoise that’s shedding its skin might bite at the area in order to fully remove the skin. This flaking skin might be irritating your tortoise so they will just bite it off to relieve themselves.

Do Tortoises Bite Each Other?

As we know tortoises are solitary and territorial animals, so when multiple are kept together it tends to cause issues among the group. The reasons tortoises might bite each other include :

  • During a fight
  • To display dominance
  • During the mating season

During A Fight

As we said, tortoises like their own company so it’s not unusual for tortoises who are kept together to fight. During a fight tortoises will bite each other, they will also chase each other, ram, and even headbutt one and another. Tortoises aren’t very aggressive animals but certain scenarios can bring out the wild side in them.

To Display Dominance

Tortoises are very territorial out in the wild and this doesn’t change when they become pet tortoises. If a new tortoise is introduced to an enclosure with an existing tortoise, there is a good chance the existing tortoise will bite the new one in order to display dominance and show the new guy who’s boss.

This is more likely to occur between two male tortoises however it can happen with a male and a female.

During The Mating Season

If a female tortoise doesn’t want to mate with a male during the mating season she will attempt to run away. As a result of this the male will chase her and in turn bite her legs to slow her down in order for him to complete the mating process.

These bites aren’t life-threatening but the female can become quite agitated so it’s best to separate them both.

Does A Tortoise Bite Hurt?

Tortoises don’t actually have any teeth which might leave some people wondering if a bite from a tortoise has the potential to cause injury or pain. A tortoises diet also doesn’t require them to break down bones or chew much as it consists of greens and plants, so does a tortoise bite hurt?

While tortoises don’t have any teeth they do have a sharp ridge at the front of their mouth, that when combined with their strong neck muscles can deliver quite a powerful bite.

The bite of a tortoise changes depending on what species it is. For example a larger tortoise will be able to deliver a nastier bite due to them being bigger and stronger. It can also vary depending on if the tortoise is a herbivore or omnivore species. Omnivores are required to do more work with their mouths when it comes to eating, so therefore they develop the muscles to be stronger.

A tortoise bite is likely to leave a stinging mark or even break the skin slightly, however that’s as far as they go. Your tortoise won’t be able to bite your finger off which I’m sure is relieving to hear.

Is A Tortoise Bite Dangerous?

We know tortoise bites aren’t particularly sore, but are they dangerous? Other reptiles have quite a dangerous bite, such as snakes, so it’s logical to be concerned.

The good news is tortoise bites aren’t dangerous outright, meaning they have no poison or venom that could leave you in life-threatening danger. The only thing to worry about from a tortoise bite is the potential of harmful bacteria in the tortoises mouth.

Tortoises and other reptiles are known to carry salmonella, so it’s good practice to wash the affected area with an anti-bacterial wipe to prevent any infections.

Tortoise Biting – Final Thoughts

Tortoises are great house pets to have, although biting can be a problem from time to time. They are most likely to bite a human if they are scared or unfamiliar with them. In this case time and some bonding will fix the issue. When it comes to other tortoises they are very territorial so they will bite during fights or to establish dominance.

All in all tortoise bites aren’t harmful and while they may sting a little you aren’t going to lose a finger. If your tortoise does bite you it’s recommended you clean the area with a anti-bacterial wipe as there will be bacteria in your tortoises mouth that will have transferred to your skin.

We hope you found this article useful and you’re now more aware of certain tortoise behaviour so you can understand your tort better!