General Care Discussion :: My baby RES is scared of me!

[Cusson]

sorry i have been posting so much lately im just new to this whole thing so i have a lot of questions.

Literally every time i even walk in the same room as my turtle he flys in the water and hides in the back corner of the tank. I dont want him to be scared of me. What can i do so he likes me?

[DocShay]

Thats completely normal. RES's are most vulnerable when they are out of water, my 2 turtles I've had about a year and a half now and they still fly into the water if I walk into the room when they are basking. Just kinda how they are, however in the water they beg for food - beg beg beg

When I feed them pellets, they get so wound up they climb up the basking dock and try to take food right from the pellet can as im dumping some in the tank.

[Bumby's Mom]

Baby turtles are naturally going to be afraid (although mine weren't but I hatched them so I guess that makes a difference). You can try just sitting next to the tank so the turtle can see you aren't hurting it. Maybe also try hand feeding, but be warned once their little jaws get more powerful and they grab onto a tiny piece of skin it hurts. My babies are about 2 inches now and it is hurting now when they miss the pellet and get some skin.

[Cusson]

well i would try hand feeding it but it honestly doesnt eat. i have never seen him eat and im pretty sure he never has eaten.

[Bascomb]

When you try to hand feed him use a frozen feeder fish. Get one large enough that he can see it and smelly enough for him to know what it is. Try several times a day until he warms up to it. When approaching the tank move very slowly. If he doesn't take it, put it back in the freezer and try again. You can try the same thing with a whole boiled shrimp.

[Cusson]

alright i think i have some rosey red feeder fish. Will that be ok?

[Shellross82]

Your res sounds like mine. I have never seen them eat before. I get worried that they aren't eating.

[Cusson]

well i put three pieces of lettuce in there yesterday and today there is only a bit of a shredded one left.. does that mean he ate it? or would my little feeder fish possibly eat lettuce?

[Cusson]

and also i was wondering... how does one play with an RES? like if i get him out of his tank is his idea of fun like being able to explore a new place... like my desk? or is there a way to play with him?

[SpotsMama]

On question #1, I'm sure your RES ate the lettuce. Good for him and good for you!

On question #2, if your RES is still a baby, he probably is too young to take of the the tank for recreation. Little ones are very skittish and being handled and being in strange places just stresses them. When Meatball gets to be a lot bigger - 4" or more - then he may show signs of enjoying being let out of the tank to crawl around and explore. That's about all they like to do - explore. They don't really play fetch or anything. When the time comes - maybe late this year or next year, whenever he starts seeming a lot more confident and tame - put him on the ground rather than on your desk. Too much chance of going over the edge of a desk.

[BATMANandROBIN]

it takes time for turtles to get used to you.

try hold your turtle every once in awhile so it can get used to you and wont be so scared.