Galapagos Tortoise Sisters Hilariously ‘Face Off’ in Slow Motion at Potawatomi Zoo

We all know that 35 seconds isn't a long time, unless you are doing a plank or watching two Galapagos tortoises fighting. The Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, August 26th of their tortoise sisters 'facing off' and arguing in the slowest, and what feels like the longest, fight you've probably ever seen. People can't get enough of it!

The video starts off with the two already face-to-face. The one on the left raises her neck, making her look bigger. The one on the right opens her mouth like she's going to bite or say something, and the two stare each other down. The one on the left decides the fight isn't worth her time (or maybe she won) and starts heading off to look for something else to do.

Didn't Potawatomi Zoo's video feel like the longest 35 seconds ever?! The sisters' "fight" cracked me up because that's definitely not what the fights I had with my sisters looked like! The Zoo explained in their caption that tortoises “fight” by facing off and stretching their necks REALLY long to intimidate the other. "Whoever has the biggest stretch is usually the winner. In this case, though, they ended up peacefully passing each other." I don't know about you, but I've watched it at least three times because it's so cute!

Related: Tortoises Have the Cutest Reactions to Being Sprayed With Water Hose

Facts About Galapagos Tortoises

Commenter Sammy asked the same thing that I was wondering, "Do tortoises ever make sounds?" The Zoo replied, "They do! Sometimes they hiss or grunt." I guess they don't do that during fights though because neither of them made a peep! The Turtle Hub shared some of the other sounds these tortoises might make, as well as what they mean. Grunting is a sound used during mating and nesting, while the hissing sound could be made if they feel threatened, are showing dominance, or when they feel stress. They might make a squeaking sound if startled, and they make a chirping sound if they are excited or feeling stressed. Google has some cool videos if you want to hear what these all sound like.

Galapagos tortoises are the largest tortoises in the world. While you couldn't tell in the video, they are massive creatures; males can reach lengths of up to 6 feet from head to tail and weigh of up to 880 pounds. Females are generally smaller and can be just as long from head to tail but only weigh around 250 pounds.

These tortoises have a normal life expectancy of around 100 years, though there are some much older than that still roaming around. The San Diego Zoo has a tortoise who will be turning 140 later this year! There's also a tortoise named Jonathan that celebrated his 191st birthday last year and is still going strong. Imagine living almost 200 years and holding the title as the oldest animal on the planet. He's the definition of an old man!

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