Dear All

I just wanted to ask the question of how far a tortoise can see? I realise that their eyes are not central so that will facilitate peripheral vision which will be better to detect predators.

What seems funny though is that while eating they almost bite into thin air until they finally detect the food in front of them.

So if close up is not that good then how far is their distance vision?

Thanks

Moira

Hi Moira

Tortoises have excellent vision, thier eye sight is automatically set to distance vision, and they have to adjust sight by muscular movement for close up vision, not sure on the range though. They see in colour and UV-A range in some cases, which helps them to identify flowers and plants.
Hope this helps
Jane, Keya & Molly

Hi Jane, Keya & Molly

Thanks for the reply. So is the biting into thin air a normal thing until their eyes become focussed? I just wanted to ask as thought at one point our little hermans tortoise had a problem?

Thanks

Moira 

Hi Moira,
My big one does this too, I am not sure why but will endevour to find out as I would be interested as well. Will come back to you on that one unless someone has the answer. Just one question how old is your tort and have they just come out of hibernation?
Jane

Hi Moira,  biting into the air could be a sign of a problem, possibly blindness.  Did you hibernate your tortoise?  If so, which method, and was the tort doing this before hibernation?

Some tortoises do this as a natural instinct, in the wild they would have to reach for food.  I have noticed that my torts prefer to eat the weeds that are sticking up, rather than the ones lying on the floor.  Also, in a group of torts, I have noticed that if one is eating a leaf and is moving it about whilst biting it, the other torts are attracted to it, and all want to eat that moving leaf!!  Again, I would think this is because in the wild the leaves would be blowing about?  So, they may instinctively look and go for upright leaves.

If you do suspect a problem, best to let a tortoise specialist vet have a look,

regards Vivienne

Dear All

My tortoise is 2.5yrs old. We got him last July from a reputable breeder and did not hibernate him as we felt we weren't ready and he was too little. We will do so this winter though.

He is growing nicely and we love him to bits!

The biting into the air thing, as you suggest may be related to the standing up plant thing as I know it is very difficult for them with leaves flat to the floor, so leafy food is always given in piles.

However we have had him in the garden on a couple of occasions this year and he does the same trick of getting up close to a leaf and then biting into the air as though his perception of where it is is not quite there. Then when he eventually hits it, he will munch away merrily.

Also, it is obvious that he detects the smell of something as a scent even though there is nothing there physically and he will try to bite thin air.

We have noticed that he has a tiny scar on top of his head, which he had when we got him, so if he is blind in one eye then it may be related. On the subject of his eyes, they look fine to us but as you say we will get him to a vets if we think there may be a problem.

We know that he is not totally blind because he negotiates obstacles and even tries to climb without problems.

He may just be querky!

Thanks for the advice.

Moira