Other Turtle Discussion :: RES trying to eat my finger

[yaseeris2fast4u]

I have three turtles about 3 months old. I got them from a friend. whenever i show them my finger or put food in their tank, they keep biting my finger as if to eat my finger. I place the food and still they're look at my finger trying to eat it. My RES's chase for my finger like they do to their favorite food. It started right after i gave them meat for the first time. I looked up on the internet that young turtles are usually carnivorous and become herbivores as they grow. The meat wasnt old or anything at all. I hope u can help me.

[cam722]

its very normal for them to do that .. they associate your fingers with the food you're hand feeding them. Its a game my family plays with them.. getting them to follow your finger around the tank... no need to worry

[steve]

It's normal and very cute when they are young and do that - at least I think so, but once they get older.. ouch.

When they do bite and get a hold of flesh or skin, try to restrain yourself from quickly yanking your hand out of there. Your RES can get hurt if you do that. Wiggling might loosen the grip, though they might clamp on harder, so you just might have to wait for them to let go.

What kind of meat are you feeding them?

[marisa]

My smallest turt, whose in a glass tank does that, and often I have to point to the food from the outside of the tank so he will look at it and eat.

The turts that are in stock tanks, don't have that luxury and will often wait, looking up at me until one of them realizes that there's food in the tank. The other's quickly follow and forget about me.

Boiled white chicken mean is ok to give as a treat. Hamburger is usually too fatty, and processed meat is full of salt and preservatives and therefore not good to give.

RES start out as more carnivorous and grow more omnivorous as they age. It's good, however, to introduce plant matter at an early age and include it as part of a balanced diet.