General Care Discussion :: Getting baby RES's used thier new home

[skitlerz]

My wife and i have 3 Res's. One is 4 years old and around 6 inches. She is used to us and begs wehenever someone first comes in the room. Our 2 little turts are naturally skittish. we have had them for 4 months or so and they are less skittish then when they arrived. I was wondering if putting a radio on near the tank during the day would help get them used to people being home, tv on and such. We are not home during the day, and when we are they hide alot, which i understand is natural and i know they will grow out of it i was just curious if anyone had tried something like this.
Thanks!

[Spike 7.62]

Turtles don't hear sounds like we do, they can "hear" (or sense, rather) vibrations. A radio will be different than a person walking around and will probably just create ambient noise.

I believe the only way to get your little RES used to you is to give it time and attention. It will recognize "the hand" as the giver of all things good, and the huge thing that moves around it's tank won't scare it anymore. I've had my little RES since August and he still leaps off the basking dock every time I enter the room.. just to come up and beg for food when I'm there. It's just instinct developed over millions of years by turtles to survive, but it will pass as they get older.

-Spike

[MoreBloodWine]

What spike said, my lil one Niko still jumps off the dock when I walk in or make alot of "vibrations" but when I walk up to the tank Niko couldnt be happier to swim up to the glass and beg for food lol

Speaking of which it's feeding time so I'll end this here

Good luck with your lil one

[skitlerz]

Thanks for the replys. Like i said i realize it is thier nature to be like that. I am not concerned about them or anything. I do give them attention, and belive me they know me as the food giver. I have hand fed them and its really funny watching them pull the food from my fingers.

[MoreBloodWine]

You do need to watch it with hand feedings, it doesnt hurt much but it does hurt a lil if they nip you. Niko got me real good one day I figured WTH, I pull my hand out to see if Niko stuck and he/she did lol. Suckers got one hell of a grip.

[bradmeisel]

i hand feed my turtles and they have become very used to it. They swim to my hand when I put it in the tank. They used to jump when they were basking but now they usually open their eyes, see its me and close their eyes again. (very cute)