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I've had this turtle for about a month now. He has a proper habitat and everything but he doesn't like me. I mean like when someone gets too close to the tank he swims and hides behind the filter. Whenever I hold him he just stays in his shell the whole time. Am I doing something wrong or is he just antisocial?

Red ear sliders are skittish turtles and it is normal for them swim off and hide. What you can do about it is just to ignore him and not handle him as much. He will soon see no threat of you and become more content when you are near

Reptiles in general are not very social. I don't touch my turtles unless I absolutely have to. He tucks in his shell because he's scared.

This is very natural like Jess and Jen pointed out. After 5 months, Koopa will just now remain basking when we walk in the room, but when we start talking off he goes. Guess he doesn't like our voices still... Just don't push your turtle to be handled if he's not comfortable;this will only stress him which isn't good for him. They aren't like a cat or dog that you can cuddle or pet all the time.

my 2 res will hide as well, we don't handle them but when we do pick them up they try to "swim away" they will spend time in the basking area but as soon as someone walks in the room they dive right in and hide between plants.

Whenever i pick mine up, he just likes to go crazy with his back legs, he seems to have absolutely no problem with it, its just hilarious to watch :D

when holding RES, their legs should be supported, in other words, you should use both hands and don't let their feet dangle. Your turtles may not be totally comfortable and may not want to be held.

They're likely stressed if they're allow to "swim" in the air. Hilarious to you, not to them.

Maybe your turtle will begin to behave differently after he gets used to you. A month is still too soon. My turtle was scared at the very beginning but now hes not. I can even walk up to him while hes basking and he will look directly at me and not move. Very rare for him to now jump off the basking rock anymore. He only does it when I open the front door. I guess the light scares him.

I never handle my turtle unless its for feeding or cleaning purposes, Im too much of a sanitation freak. I always use a "cage" like technique with my hand. He knows Im going to get him so he just stays still floating in the water and then I encircle my hand around him so hes supported on all sides especially the bottom and cant accidentally jump free and get hurt. Also by doing this, Im not putting any pressure on his body at all. Hes just sort of sitting in my caged hand and hes not uncomfortable. Maybe this is why he doesnt mind being handled. Ive never let him swim through the air. It looks like its something that could frighten him. I put him directly in a temp container very quickly so he has as little contact with me as possible.

Of course, this will change when he gets big and wont fit in my hand anymore.

Butterfly, my RES grew too large to fit in my hand a while back. He's gotten more mellow with time, though, and will often just tuck his legs and tail in and let me pick him up with one hand. If he shows signs of wanting to move on/wave his legs, I just have him straddle both palms so he has something to put his feet on and keep my thumbs on his back to keep him in place just in case he decides to try to jump off.