General Care Discussion :: How long can they be out of the water?

[tauc87]

I like taking Greeny out of the tank everyday when I get home from work. We'll lay down and watch TV. Greeny loves it I can tell lol. The thing is I don't know how long she can be without getting back into her tank... I worry too much lol.
How long can they be without being in water?

[SpotsMama]

She can be out of water for a few hours a day with no problem. My Spot will sometimes bask for 8 hours in a day. It's actually good for their shells to dry out thorougly on a regular basis.

[tauc87]

AWESOME!!!! thanks!

[DavidY]

Babies might need to rehydrate a little more often in between though. They can dry out faster.

[SpotsMama]

That's true. I didn't think of that. Spot's about 7" long.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I wouldnt handle her too often to tell you the truth. It may seem like she's enjoying it, but she probably isnt. I think the only time a turtle should be handled is during water change's or to check for infection's and such..Handleing them put's too much stress on them, something we human's sometime's cant see and understand.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Agreed with xsavingsaturdayx. The babies can get really stressed out about being out of the tank. The basic guideline is: if you take your turtle out & he runs for the nearest hiding place, he is stressed out.

In my case, I have had my turtle for 17 yrs & she loves being out of the tank. She follows me around the house (especially if she knows I have food in my hand) & explores everywhere around the house (loves to look at & smell things). She even has one place she likes to crawl into when she is being ignored (if I stop paying attention to her, she crawls into her big plush shoe & naps). I can leave her out of the tank for up to 8 hours because she is a very big girl (9" long shell, and well-fed).

I realize that Sheba is the exception rather than the rule though.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Yup. But keep in mind that not ALL turtle's are like kristen's. And she's had her's for so long. A baby is much more delicate and I heard that stress can lead to illness, or something about lowering the immune system..I'm not too sure, but bottom line. Dont take your turtle out and "play" with her, as much as I would love to do that I remind myself that turtle's are reptile's and not dog's or cat's and I know if everyone's turtle's got a chance to escape into a huge pond away from their big headed owner's, they'd leave in a heart beat. Or if their owner was to die or go away, as long as they got fed, they wouldnt care. What I'm trying to say is, alot of people think of turtle's as social animal's and like to imagine that they 'love' their owner's or that they enjoy being poked and petted, but the reality is 'no'. If there is any love in a relationship between a turtle and a human, the human is the only one with love to pass around.

But I am aware of turtle's like sheba who dont mind being outside their tank, however most turtle's are not like that, and it's a rare exception and I think even kristen admited that the reason sheba followed her around was because she wanted to get fed, it's kinda like begging, only outside the tank, you know? Everything come's back to food in the end.

I still love my turtle's to death even though they put up with me for food, and not for other reason's and I respect their "dont touch me leave me alone, i'm happy being alone and not being touched" attitude.

[SpotsMama]

On the other hand, Spot comes after me when he's outside too and I don't offer him food outside the tank. I think he likes it that I take him places like outside where he can walk around and explore. When he walks around outside he doesn't run and hide at all. Sometimes he finds a sunny spot on the sidewalk or in the grass and basks. Sometimes he just goes around sniffing at things and looking at things. When he's had enough he goes to the back door and starts scratching on it like a dog.

But then.....Spot's four years old. When he was little he would run and hide from me. It's only since he's gotten older and gotten to know me real well that he seems more confident. It's very important that I've never teased him or handled him roughly - you must always be very gentle with your turtle.

I'd recommend for the little ones not handling them any more than absolutely necessary. When they get older, depending on how they react, he/she can come out and explore.

[industrial_girl_2000]

But I am aware of turtle's like sheba who dont mind being outside their tank, however most turtle's are not like that, and it's a rare exception and I think even kristen admited that the reason sheba followed her around was because she wanted to get fed, it's kinda like begging, only outside the tank, you know? Everything come's back to food in the end.

I agree that most of Sheba's thoughts revolve around food when I take her out (her following me around happened purely by accident many yrs ago when I started "leading" her around the house with food). But other times, she is simply bored in the tank. There have been times where she simply does not want to stay in her tank & wants OUT! She splashes & makes big fuss & climbs up the side of the tank trying to get out. This used to happen more when she was in her too-small 55 gal tank, but now that she is in the 90 gal, it happens less frequently (thank goodness!).

As years have gone by, there are moments with Sheba that make me wonder whether food is really the only thing on her mind. For example.....she knows the difference between people & there are certain people that she will not go to out of the tank (this has been tested time & time again). When my parents come to visit & my dad takes her out of the tank, she follows him the same way she follows me & just RUNS to him! She won't do this as much with my mom though & given a choice will run to me every time. And certain petsitters have complained that Sheba got very aggressive with them when they tried to take her out of the tank & she tried to bite them, food or not!

So who knows....food was how it all started, and Sheba just got more and more comfortable as time went on. She basks continuously whether I am in the room or not, and I can even put my hand on her back when she is basking without her jumping off the dock. She just trusts me. Maybe that's because of all the good food, but I don't think I will ever really know.....

[tauc87]

Well thank you everybody for your help. I thought she liked being let out of the tank, guess I was wrong. I still love her to death though. I'll leave her be from now on.

[cheech&chong]

my turtles sleep in my bed and eat at my table. they also sing and chirp when i play guitar and they laugh at my jokes. they like to watch the sopranos with me and they tell me they love me every night.

i don't know but you all seem to have some pretty unfriendly turtles!

[Boston_Zhao]

But I am aware of turtle's like sheba who dont mind being outside their tank, however most turtle's are not like that, and it's a rare exception and I think even kristen admited that the reason sheba followed her around was because she wanted to get fed, it's kinda like begging, only outside the tank, you know? Everything come's back to food in the end.

I agree that most of Sheba's thoughts revolve around food when I take her out (her following me around happened purely by accident many yrs ago when I started "leading" her around the house with food). But other times, she is simply bored in the tank. There have been times where she simply does not want to stay in her tank & wants OUT! She splashes & makes big fuss & climbs up the side of the tank trying to get out. This used to happen more when she was in her too-small 55 gal tank, but now that she is in the 90 gal, it happens less frequently (thank goodness!).

As years have gone by, there are moments with Sheba that make me wonder whether food is really the only thing on her mind. For example.....she knows the difference between people & there are certain people that she will not go to out of the tank (this has been tested time & time again). When my parents come to visit & my dad takes her out of the tank, she follows him the same way she follows me & just RUNS to him! She won't do this as much with my mom though & given a choice will run to me every time. And certain petsitters have complained that Sheba got very aggressive with them when they tried to take her out of the tank & she tried to bite them, food or not!

So who knows....food was how it all started, and Sheba just got more and more comfortable as time went on. She basks continuously whether I am in the room or not, and I can even put my hand on her back when she is basking without her jumping off the dock. She just trusts me. Maybe that's because of all the good food, but I don't think I will ever really know.....

Maybe turtles have different IQs, some are really dumb, some are much smarter, your baby is a VERY smart one I guess

[tauc87]

my turtles sleep in my bed and eat at my table. they also sing and chirp when i play guitar and they laugh at my jokes. they like to watch the sopranos with me and they tell me they love me every night.

i don't know but you all seem to have some pretty unfriendly turtles!

lol aw that made my day

[industrial_girl_2000]

Thanks Boston_Zhao!

Sheba was fairly tame when I got her so whoever cared for me before me did a great job! I wish there was some way I could meet them or thank them.

Kristin