General Care Discussion :: stressin out?

[Pluckt007]

hola, i read a lot of things about happiness and stress, and other emotions with turtle care. i thought that since i got him from a blue lagoon, no lights, 1 inch of water, that mostly watever situation i put him in is better. im not stupid, its not like im throwing him around or anything. but should i really care about how he feels, weather he's stressed or not, or just be mostly concered about actually living conditions? like i said, im not no animal abuser by far. hello, thats why i got the turt in the begging, but stress? comfortableness and stress are obviolsy connected, but wouldn't stress gradually disappear the longer i have my turtle? and o yea, am i sniffing glue, or can i tell if he smiles at me?

[TXGUY]

HI Vato I think the stress will desapper gradually, it will take some time to the turtle to get use to the new house , and the new enviroment, like you said: confortable place will makes stress goes away
and.... I think he/she smiles at you, it maybe means:
" thanks for saved me "

[SpotsMama]

I am a firm believer that RES have feelings like other animals. Their feelings might be simpler than a mammal's but they are quite definite. They feel stress and fear, they experience curiosity, they can be relaxed, they get excited to see you once they get to know you, they get ecstatic about good food, they interact in dramatic ways with other turtles and with things in their environment. When they are stressed for long periods I think it affects their ability to fight off infection and their healthy in general.

Turtles are rather sensitive to changes in their habitat so when they are in a new one they are going to be stressed for awhile until they get used to it and calm down. It also stresses them to be in cramped spaces, to be harrassed by another turtle, and to be teased or frightened.

Turtles get bored if their environment is too dull. There was a report awhile back about a RES that had a very dull tank and nobody ever paid attention to her, She started biting her own arms, apparently in frustration. Then the owner put a rubber ball in the tank and the turtle started playing with it every day and stopped biting her arms. Turtles need some stimulation in their environment just like a dog or a cat - or you and me for that matter.

My turtle likes variety. He has two places where he can spend time - his indoor aquarium and his outdoor pond. When he's been in his pond for awhile and I take out and let him crawl around, after he's finished exploring he goes to the back door and scratches on it. I think it means he wants to go inside and spend some time in his aquarium. On the other hand, after he's been in his aquarium for awhile and I take him outside for some sun, when he finishes exploring he goes to his outside pond and tries to climb the walls. I think it means he wants to be in his pond for awhile.

Sorry - you asked a simple question and I've written you a novel. I get carried away because I think RES are so interesting. Anyway, the short answer to your question is yes - you should care about whether your turtle is stressed. Keep his environment clean and roomy, never tease him, always handle him gently, make sure he gets some stimulation. His stress level will go down and you'll get to experience what a fun and interactive little guy he is.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I wondered often if Sheba smiled at me (and thought I was going koo-koo) until one of my friends came over one time, and said "if I didn't know any better, I'd think your turtle was smiling, but that's crazy isn't it? Can turtles actually smile or is it my imagination?" I had to laugh because I have often thought the same thing.

Whatever your routine is, make it somewhat consistent. Turtles (like any animal) can get on a schedule & start to expect things (like food) at the proper times. You can put your turtle's light on a timer so that the light always goes on every day at the same time, and if you feed him/her, feed them around the same time of day. Feed by hand when you can, and occasionally provide a treat.

I talk to my Sheba & am always so happy to see her when I come home at night. I get in and it's like "Honey, I'm HOOOOOME!!!!" And sometimes I think she smiles back.....

[Pluckt007]

cool. (how's that for a novel')

[SpotsMama]

Short!