General Care Discussion :: Handling of new turtle

[ryanaz]

I know this may have been answered a million times, but I would appreciate any suggestions on handling. I got my RES about a month back from my sister (rescued) and I think the four kids about drove him nuts. When I got him he was very depressed and malnurished. He is doing well now, so well that he is fast and very active.....I recently figured out from these postings that he knew how to beg for food -- every time he saw me he probably thought "sucker".

Anyhow, I feel bad because he dive bombs into the water every time he sees me enter the room. He will resurface to "check me out" soon after, but should I be handling him, picking him up to get him used to me? The last thing I want to do is stress him out further, but I also would like him to stay put when I enter the room. Note: he could care less about me when he is basking -- that is his "I don't give a rip time".

Any suggestions would be very appreciated. Oh, he is a little guy still...about 4" shell. To him, I think right now I am just the guy that feeds him and peers at him through the glass.

Thanks in advance - Ryan

[Cim*Forever]

Hey Ryan,

I think a lot of new turtle owners have a bit of stress over this. I know I did. The easiest way to get a turtle comfortable with you is to have him associate you with food. So if you are the only one feeding him (and hand feeding is good, but watch your fingers!) he will think of you as the food guy; a guy that wont hurt him/stress him and the guy that feeds him.

From what I have read, turtles feel like easy prey when they are out of the water, which is why they are so weary and flighty. It is in my experience that picking up your turtle and handling him is a good way to stress him out. My turtle is 3" and he doesn't appreciate it even coming out of his tank for a tank cleaning. Maybe they won't mind when they are bigger. Someone with more experience might have some better ideas.

[ryanaz]

Thank you for the suggestions. I do feel he thinks of me as the food wagon right now and from the sounds of it is much like your little one. I didn't want to be the "bad owner" and have the only anti-social turtle in the sandbox.

Thank you.

[mikee]

Nope!! That is perfectly normal. If you decide to feed him by hand, he will not take the food the first feeding. Don’t leave the food in the tank, and don't give up, because it may take a few days until he gets the idea. Use something he recognizes, like a pellet, that you may have been feeding him in the past. He will get the idea after a few tries.