General Care Discussion :: Spaz is scared of me :(

[joeybsmooth]

What can I do , he does not eat in front of me , and he doesn't drive in front of me . How long would it take for him to not be sacred of me.

[mikee]

It will take a long time. I have two in one tank that is over two years and they still hit the water when I come in the room. They have gotten better since I have been feeding them by hand. It is amazing, what an attitude change when you become their food source. HA.

[Mother of Three]

My male slider, Little Joe, was really skittish when I first got him. (FYI: His previous owners had also named him Spaz). When I walk up to his pond I do it really slow so I don't startle him and I reach in (slowly) and pick him up, even if he scurries away from me. I bring him out of the water and hold him and talk to him for at least 30 seconds and then gently put him back in the water. Sometimes I just hold him in the water, or I just let my hand hang in the water and he'll swim up and sniff it and swim through my fingers. He's getting used to me now. It takes a lot of patience.

[imderanged]

My turtle really never was a shy guy, but I think handfeeding helps. I started feeding him pellets right out of my fingers very early on and he will swim right into my hand and I can lead him around the tank with my finger. He jumps off his platform alot of the time when I walk into the room but it's because he wants to swim over and say hi and ask for food.

[joeybsmooth]

My first turts were from my 3rd grade class . So I really don't remember how they got trained lol.

And Spaz is a great name . lol

[Azfar]

My turtle really never was a shy guy, but I think handfeeding helps. I started feeding him pellets right out of my fingers very early on and he will swim right into my hand and I can lead him around the tank with my finger. He jumps off his platform alot of the time when I walk into the room but it's because he wants to swim over and say hi and ask for food.

My turtles also behave like that.. even though I don't have pellets at my hand and just put my fingers in water, they will come to me thinking I have the foods.. haha.. like to play like that to them ..

[joeybsmooth]

wow you are from Malaysia . Neat.

[starscollided]

my little chomper is just a baby and isnt shy at all but i have been hand feeding him since i got him - - Squirt i rescued young but he is SO shy - - he will not bask in front of me unless he believes that i am not looking - He only seems comfy with me around if he is in the water and we are separated by the aquarium glass hehe

[Azfar]

Yes. I am from Malaysia.. and also believe my turtles was born in Malaysia.. kiki Don't worry about your Spaz.. On one sweet day he will get use to you

[christu]

Interesting. My girlfriend lives in Malaysia.

Anyway, all of these sound like good ideas. People bond with pets in different ways. Give them a name. Take care of them. Let them get comfy with you. I'm still a newbie in the whole turtle owner arena. I'm a three day owner. Heh. I'm doing a lot of reading on this forum for Zoe's care.

[megcornell]

I found that food way the way to both of my turtle's hearts. Leo began begging almost immediately while Ezra only just recently began to beg (I've had him since new year's). So, each turtle is different and will come around in their own time and to their own degree of "tame-ness." While both now beg from me, neither turtle enjoys being picked up or going outside of the tank, so I just let them stay in their comfort zones.