General Care Discussion :: Shy/timid turtle...

[G.andJ.plusSam]

Hey hey turtle lovers!
I was just wondering, we have had Sam (Our Res) for a month and he is very shy and timid and swims really fast around the tank when we come in the room. Sometimes he hides behind his rocks. He is in an area that we go into sometimes, but not a lot of time is spent in there. Is there anyway I can socialize my turtle or get him so he's not scared of me... I'm probablly being impatient but just wondering if this is normal or if since he's starting off shy, will he always be shy?
Thanks,
Jessica

[vear]

Hello. My turtle Tomi was pretty scared for a while after we got him. I pretty much just ignored him! Although he knew we were in the room (he's in our living room) but I'd only go near the tank in order to feed him. I feel like this way he realized I wasn't going to hurt him or anything. He had time to simply adjust to his new home.

Now he really doesn't mind, he basks in front of us and lets us hold him without "kicking and screaming" haha. But really, I have no idea, that's just what I did and it seemed to have worked. BTW I've had him for about 2 months.

[blackforces get you]

hi jessica. it wont last long their just not comfortable yet. they'll get used to you like dogs do. it wont last too long. hopefully, they dont stay as shy as they do

i had mine for about two years and their still a bit shy around me. just give them time

[mike hill]

G,J- sam -- It is normal and may take a while. I have had some take as long as a year to calm down. That is a survival instinct from the wild. The higher the traffic area the quicker they start to get used to you. I suggest that you feed him by hand. That will also take a while, but you will become their source of food and they will come up for it. You will have to wait him out at first. M.

[rsour24]

ive had my turtle for maybe 2 months going on 3 and he is still shy around me

[gwennie]

It can last for a long while - turtles can take a long time to adjust to new surroundings.

I got mine from a person who had his hatchlings in a garage that was very quiet with not a lot of foot traffic. My turtle still spooks sometimes and will hide from us, and it took him months to bask in front of us.

Just be patient ^^ your turtle will get used to you being around eventually.

[Moose]

hey! turtles are just like kids, they take time to get use to you. I've had my RES for about a month and a half now and they started out that way and now they just swim to the front of the tank to beg for food and to be held.

[Penelope75]

Hey there...
I've only had my turtle for a month and at first he was VERY shy. We share a room during the day so he got used to me pretty quick and now he watches me as I talk to him and begs for food as soon as I walk in the room...Give him some time!! You might consider moving him to a room that is used more often if you want him to adjust quicker and if that's even a possibility!! Don't worry he'll come around..

[mike hill]

Jess - It has nothing to do with shyness. It is survival instinct and it may take a while. Pen-o is correct in that the more traffic he has the quicker he will pick up on you being the food source. You may want to try and feed by hand for a while. When he gets hungry enough he will eat from you hand.

[theartbook35]

Mine are a year and a half old, and they still do what you describe. It's usually if we forget to walk by the tank slowly. They get spooked by sudden movements or big shadows.

The way I got them to get used to me watching them, was by standing in front of the tank perfectly still for several minutes. As long as I don't move, and back up slowly after a while, Typhoon will let me watch her bask. The other turtle, Hurricane, just started getting used to that whole idea... lol XD

Once they associate you with food and secure/safe handling, they'll be more willing to interact with you.

[Moose]

yea! not only that, they have really sensitive hearing! I just learned that today lol

[marisa]

If you mean sensitive to vibrations, that's true. They do not, however, hear that well, especially higher tones.

[lorib]

I've had mine for over a year now and even though they have no problem begging for food, they won't bask unless nobody's in the room. As soon as someone comes in the room they dive off and crash into the side--you'd think by now they'd know where the walls are! Sometime I wonder if they bask at all because they always seem to be in the water.