If you’re thinking about getting a tortoise as a pet, you probably want to learn as much about them as possible first so that you know how best to care for them. For those unfamiliar with tortoises, a common question about their anatomy is ‘do tortoises have teeth?’.
The answer is that tortoises do not have teeth. Instead, they use their mouths in a similar way to birds, with a hardened upper and lower mouth edge. This beak-like structure allows them to chow down on their favourite snacks, which is something they love – and something owners enjoy when it comes to snack time.
The bigger the tortoise, the bigger the bite. And with a variety of tortoise species across the planet, their diets can obviously differ in terms of what they like to eat and what they can physically manage to bite, and then crush with their mouths.
Why do tortoises bite?
As far as pets go, the common tortoise will likely be quite docile, so you’re unlikely to find that they bite for anything other than food. With that in mind, it’s important to get your hands and fingers out of the way if feeding them directly, just in case they mistake your digits for a piece of fruit or a vegetable.
As they’re slow in nature, it’s fairly easy to keep your hands and fingers away. Another reason you might see a tortoise trying to bite you is if they feel threatened or if it’s mating season and a male is attempting to woo a female by nipping at her.
Regardless of these facts, you should always handle your tortoise gently and with care, keeping your eye on their body language to avoid being bitten at all times.
Does a tortoise’s bite hurt?
The pain you might feel if you do happen to be bitten by your tortoise will vary depending on their size and species. Some tortoises are more docile than others, resulting in a relatively tame bite, but even a docile tortoise with a large mouth could cause your hand or finger some real damage.
A tortoise bite is not venomous, but you will need to wash any wounds carefully to avoid a risk of infection. There is almost no risk of a tortoise being able to break a finger bone, any accidental bite will only result in breaking the skin.
What can a tortoise eat?
The dietary requirements of a tortoise can vary wildly depending on where their exact species developed. There are lots of foods they love to eat, and they may even be willing to eat things that aren’t actually that healthy for them, so it’s worth figuring out what your shelled friend is best suited for.
For example, horsefield tortoises – one of the more common species we keep as pets in the UK – are better suited to a specific diet of leaves and stems, with the odd low-sugar fruit as a treat in very small doses. Meanwhile, tortoises that developed in warmer, more tropical climates, such as the red-footed and yellow-footed tortoise, can better handle the level of sugar in fruit as it would have formed some part of their diet in the wild.
Your ultimate goal for feeding your pet is to always make sure they get the right balance of vitamins and minerals, which is especially important if you want to keep a tortoise’s shell in good condition.
What is wrong with my tortoise’s mouth?
One side-effect of feeding your tortoise the wrong diet is the impact it can have on their mouth. Since it’s so integral to how they chomp their food, mouth rot is something owners should be wary of and vigilant about.
Signs of mouth rot in tortoises include a discolouring of their beak area and a loss of appetite due to the condition. It often means there is an infection, which is why stickier foods aren’t recommended since a tortoise may not be able to clean its mouth as regularly as it needs to.
What’s the difference between a tortoise and a terrapin mouth?
Often, people can confuse turtles, tortoises and terrapins, especially the latter two, since they both are kept more often as pets (turtles are seawater creatures).
Terrapins have a reputation for biting, being a more aggressive species, especially when it comes to dominance over food. Neither the terrapin nor the tortoise has any teeth, but you’ll find the snapping action of a terrapin results in a much quicker and more forceful bite. This is not venomous but will be painful!
Do tortoises have teeth? Final words
Now you know that your tortoise doesn’t have teeth, you can figure out how best to feed them. For directions on their diet or if you think your tortoise may have an issue with its mouth, contact your vet immediately.
