General Care Discussion :: Making Friends with your Turtle

[dpb]

I have had my RES for about 1.5yrs and we get a long pretty well. She will still hiss when I pick her up and try to bite at first. Is there any advice on how to bond with your turtle and have them trust you and feel more secure?

Thanks,

David

[sagoy]

Try hand feeding, just be careful.

[shortt]

I hand feed mine a jello shot every day so I'm associated with food and it works great. She doesn't hiss and lets me pick her up. Only gets startled when she's basking then flies into the water and then is perfectly happy to see me. As sagoy pointed out watch your fingers because when mine bites she doesn't let go she plays for keeps!

[sflemin2]

Do it while you can! Its my biggest regret Too late for my big mommas

[dpb]

Great advice. I did that at first, but then stopped. She normally is fine being on my lap and when walking around the house will come up to me. I have been able to avoid her bit for over a year and a half. I think now it could probably do some real damage.

[sflemin2]

Yeah..they get pretty strong. They can bite the blood out of you (theres actually an active post about that right now). I never hand fed mine because I was young when I got them and my mom was too worried about salmonella