General Care Discussion :: How do you help a turtle to not be shy?

[alexis_906]

My two turtles are very shy. Cereal Box (older one) is some what shy, you can watch him bask with only the ocasional jump into the water. But my baby Cheerios if you even walk into the room from several feet away and he sees you he flips out and quickly gets into the water. So I was wondering if there is a way to calm them or help them to become friendly?

[adam85491]

How long have you had your turtles? It takes time to get them to realize you are not going to hurt them. Eventually, they will probably recognize you as a source of food but some turtles are just not very social.

[turboturtle8]

Like what Adam said once they get use to you going in and out of the room they'll settle down.My turtles do the same thing while there basking and I come in the room they jump right back in the water

[alexis_906]

My older turtle I have had for almost 2 years and the baby I have had now 2 weeks.

[turboturtle8]

My turtles are about 2 years too and still do that.I don't know I guess it's there instinct.Do you turtles if there basking and then jump in the water do they start digging like crazy?

[SpotsMama]

Two weeks is brand spanking new! He'll get calmer over time.

They do have individual personalities and some will turn out to be friendlier than others, but as Adam said, associating you with food is a key point. The way to a turtle's heart is through his/her stomach.

Industrial_girl_2000 suggested dividing the turtle's daily food ration into three or four little bitty meals and dropping some in the tank every time you go by. You can speed up the link between you and the food that way.

Do you feed your turtles separately? If you're not careful, the big one will hog all the food. Be sure the little one is getting his/her fair share.

[alexis_906]

Oh yeah my turtles are in seperate tanks because of their drastic size difference. That sounds like a good idea to divide the food protion, this way I can also feel like I am feeding them more without over feeding them. Because I found that I gave in to my older turltes begging too often.



And they do seem to dig once I scare them off of their basking spots. It makes me feel bad, like I could actually scare them to death one time.

[SpotsMama]

You're doing good alexis! Just keep it slow and gentle and they'll come around.