General Care Discussion :: Sass hates being handled and our poor dog...

[Sassamo]

Sassamo has just finished shedding and I took her out too check out her new shell, well Ursa my 9month old lab mix decided too give her a sniff... Well Poor Ursa now has 3 1cm cuts on her nose Poor girl, I don't think she will go near Sass any time soon lol. Her shell is pretty rough under still, it'll probely take a few years too get her shell looking like it should Her pyramiding does look better already so one day she will look smoother lol.
Man she hates being held, hisses at us, try's too pee on us(she has too be doing this on purpose because every time she is out she trys too aim at us lol), and of course claws at our hands. So I avoid holding her as much as I can lol.

[theartbook35]

Some females are like that. Mine are both pretty sassy, Typhoon more so than Hurricane.

How old was Sass when you got her, and how often did you handle her when you got her?

Sometimes the more you handle a turtle, the more they are willing to put up with being held. Typhoon doesn't like it, but she doesn't flail around really like she did when we first got her. I hope eventually she'll be more active when she's held like Hurricane does, who nowadays rushes up to the tank walls to be picked up, rather than for food.

[Sassamo]

We got Sassamo this summer her age is unknown, she was passed from home too home until we got her. Now she is a memeber of our family She is 7inches long now, grew an inch since we got her.

I wish I could get a hatchling, but turtles are not allowed too be sold here, you can only have one given too you.

[Kemul]

Photo of the new shell, please?

I read that turtle peeing is a sign of stress. If the turtle purposefully "aims" you,
I don't know about that

When you need to hold her, perhaps you can use a small towel or fabric. I've
seen photos of people doing this. Just wrap the towel around the shell, the legs
will not move much while you can observe the head and tail.

Just a little suggestion

[Sassamo]

I usually use a small blanket or towel when I handle her just incase lol
Here's her new shiny shell:

Being super girl:

And Ursa's turtle bitten nose, she's nice and muddy too from playing outside, crazy mutt lol

[theartbook35]

I usually use a small blanket or towel when I handle her just incase lol
Here's her new shiny shell:

Being super girl:

And Ursa's turtle bitten nose, she's nice and muddy too from playing outside, crazy mutt lol

Typhoon stretches out like that too, rests her head on the leaves around the basking spot and takes a very long nap.

You're basking spot looked like it has water in it, and it should be completely dry. They like to dry off now and then.

I don't think your turtle was socialized properly before you got her. Which is a shame, because when socialized well, you can pick them up without them flailing, and even pet them on the head.

You can get your turtle used to you if you handle her every other day for just a few minutes. RES do attach to certain people sometimes, and as long as her handling is comfortable and stress free, she'll have a good trust relationship with you. Sit her in your lap, rub her shell gently, in a very quiet room, maybe with the door shut so your dog can't get to her. The best thing about RES is that when you give them oodles of love, they start loving you right back.

[Sassamo]

Her basking area is dry, it use too be filled with sand but after sand clogged my filter we decided too go bare bottom. There are a few drain holes in the plastic too so no water builds up.

I should start trying too handle her more often, the dog usually leaver her alone, I was shocked that she even came up and sniffed at her. I don't think she'll go close too her anymore after the bite lol. When it warms up more I would like too get her outside so she can take in some real sunshine

[Kemul]

Sassamo has a beautiful shell! Good job keeping Sassamo

[Azfar]

Wahh.. Sassamo so b e a utiful.. her shell pretty and healthy looks too.
She almost camouflage on your sofa..

[twyangzii]

Seriously though, but mine is always the other way round, females are fine with us, and males are always grumpy :S

[theartbook35]

Seriously though, but mine is always the other way round, females are fine with us, and males are always grumpy :S

Yeah, males tend to be very tough. Relaxed in their tank, but tough otherwise. That's why I thought Hurricane was a male for so long, since SHE acted like a HE. There's a size difference between both my turtles, a dramatic difference in their shedding patterns, Hurricane "had" longer nails (she wore them down from her pawing at the tank walls), certain shapes to the shell and feet which I've only seen in males and females among this site. The uh, 'special place' *giggle* was the deciding factor. That just doesn't magically change place, ya know?

[Ginko]

Sassamo has just finished shedding and I took her out too check out her new shell, well Ursa my 9month old lab mix decided too give her a sniff... Well Poor Ursa now has 3 1cm cuts on her nose Poor girl, I don't think she will go near Sass any time soon lol. Her shell is pretty rough under still, it'll probely take a few years too get her shell looking like it should Her pyramiding does look better already so one day she will look smoother lol.
Man she hates being held, hisses at us, try's too pee on us(she has too be doing this on purpose because every time she is out she trys too aim at us lol), and of course claws at our hands. So I avoid holding her as much as I can lol.

Same, except I don't have a dog. Qing tried peeing at me when I dont let him on the ground. He tried biting me too jesus.

Edit : Ok seriously, after all of the posts, we know that males like to pee and ruin our clothes .

[theartbook35]

Sassamo has just finished shedding and I took her out too check out her new shell, well Ursa my 9month old lab mix decided too give her a sniff... Well Poor Ursa now has 3 1cm cuts on her nose Poor girl, I don't think she will go near Sass any time soon lol. Her shell is pretty rough under still, it'll probely take a few years too get her shell looking like it should Her pyramiding does look better already so one day she will look smoother lol.
Man she hates being held, hisses at us, try's too pee on us(she has too be doing this on purpose because every time she is out she trys too aim at us lol), and of course claws at our hands. So I avoid holding her as much as I can lol.

Same, except I don't have a dog. Qing tried peeing at me when I dont let him on the ground. He tried biting me too jesus.

Edit : Ok seriously, after all of the posts, we know that males like to pee and ruin our clothes .

You really shouldn't avoid handling Sassamo. Every couple of days just pick her up, pet her, and put her back. If you hand feed her she'll see something positive come from you and feel much safer. RES I firmly believe are only feisty or aggressive because of how they have been socialized. My bigger girl, Typhoon, eventually got over herself and now I can actually play games with her in their tank.