General Care Discussion :: How to Get My Turtle to Stop Biting Me?

[Brianna]

Hi!

I have a 1 year old red eared slider, of which I've had pretty much since he was hatched. (Still had an egg tooth when he was given to me.)

He's perfectly healthy, happy, and VERY energetic! My only problem would be, he bites. At the moment I'm not too concerned, but I'm scared that when he grows he'll end up really hurting me.

Red eared sliders hate to be handled, and I know this, which is why the only time I touch him is when I'm cleaning out his tank. (Which isn't very often, considering how much the filter helps!)


Is there any way to stop this behavior? Thankyou so much!!

[Listen97]

Not really, just keep your fingers clear. The more you handle them the more they will trust you so they do calm down a bit. Mine are large enough they can't reach my hands when I lift them anymore so they gave up trying.

[CactusJohn5]

Nope, its a defence mechanism, swap places with him, imagine something that is 50x larger than you trying to pick you up, and all you can do it bite or scratch. You're going to try and bite, lol

[michaelg]

Larger turtles urinate as a defense mechanism as well. So becareful when the turtle gets larger. When you pick up the turtle, it is scared. The only thing it can do to protect itself is to bite.

When you have to pick up the turtle, stay towards the back of the shell. The bigger it gets, the stronger its legs will get so try to hold it in such a way that its legs can't scratch your hand. Their claws can break skin.

-Michael

[amwassil]

Hi, new member here. Wife and I have three red eared sliders, two less than 2 months old, so still timid and shy babies. One is about a year old and is afraid of nothing! The best way I can recommend to get your turtle not to bite is to handle it lots so it gets used to being touched. I don't buy the adage that sliders don't like to be touched. If you hold them and pet them gently while talking to them they will not only get used to it, they will enjoy it. As others have already informed you, the turtle bites from fear. If it does not fear you or your hand, it will not bite you. It's a real joy when these marvelous little creatures trust you and come to you to sit on your hand or lap for some petting. If you just want to look at something in a tank get some tropical fish - most of them REALLY don't want to be touched, although gold fish like to suck you fingers and be petted gently. However, if you raise your turtle with lots of touching and human interaction, the results will be most rewarding. And, I don't think peeing is a defense mechanism, I think it's a fear reaction. The only time my year old turtle has peed on either me or my wife was when she was scared by something. Enjoy and best wishes for you and your turtle; be patient, always remember that it takes a while for the little guy to realize you're not going to eat him.

Michael

[steve]

When the turtles are in water, it's very instinctive for them to bite fingers so I don't know if this something than can conditioned.

[Ahpit]

My 4 sliders are 1.5 years old. I handle them a lot and hand feed them everyday.

Initially, yes, fingers are food. They'll try to bite anything that went close to their face. Heck they'll even smell and bite one another's limbs.

As time goes by, they stop trying to bite my fingers. They learnt the difference between food and fingers. Whenever I hand feed them, they'll try to avoid my finger. And when they do accidentally bite, they'll release. Now they won't bite even if I put my fingers right in front of them. I can touch their mouth, nose, and pet their head. No doubt they are stupid animals, but they can learn. But do note that not all sliders are the same. They each have their own personality and behaviour. One of my slider still hates to be handled.

To fully maximise your experience with your pet sliders, go ahead and hand feed them, touch them, handle them, play with them. Like one poster said, If you just want to watch, get some fish instead.

[bebebear6]

I agree with the statement to handle them a lot. When I first got my two turtles they both would bite every time I held them. I take them out once everyday and now they actually like being held and hand fed. One of my sliders (Raphael likes to just hang out and be held while watching tv and Michaelangelo likes to walk around begging for food ... I know when they want to be held because they will stand on their hind legs with there front legs on the glass and watch us until we come over. Its cute... but took a lot of handling them to get to this point.

[TCODE04]

Wow, so turtles can actually be friendly when you handle them frequently? I should try that one out and see what happens! Although initially I had this weird idea of buying hamster balls so that they can run around my room without pooping on the floor....
Anyways! About the biting stuff, yes, my turtles do bite my fingers while I hand feed them but only when I forget to feed them for a whole day. But like Ahpit, they will quickly release and carefully aim for the food.

[steve]

Handling them is not a guarantee that they will be friendlier. Mine still can act skittish when basking. I think marisa used something like a hamster ball before, I guess you can try it if you find one large enough.

[Gurgi's Mom]

I have a Painted, so my experience could be different due to that. Gurgi loves being held. He has never ever bitten anyone, nor have I even seen him try. He even swims into your hand to be picked up. He is handled a lot! We take him out of his tank daily, for feeding and at times some natural sun bathing outside. He is a joy.

[camee1991]

Depending on the size of your turt...i use Premi diapers and cut a hole through the back for her tail. She just runs around and we stay poo and pee free!! She is about 5 pounds... but her shell is wide so the diapers actually fit nicely. Lol
Never thought of a hampster ball though. I think that might scare her...hmmm

[Impulse Shopper]

Initially, yes, fingers are food. They'll try to bite anything that went close to their face.

Not my George. I will literally put food in front of his face, touch his mouth with it, and he stoically keeps his mouth shut. It's kinda funny. Also, he doesn't eat in my presence. I left him some carrots (first time) and lettuce and pellets on his basking rock, left the house for a few hours, and when I returned, he had demolished the veggies! I was impressed. I think he's sulking lately because I haven't given him tuna in a couple days, which I will do today. I think he devours it but...I've never seen him eat, so I don't know!

I can touch their mouth, nose, and pet their head.

Aw, that's sweet. I've never tried to pet George's head. His eyes are so big, I don't want to poke him. He lets me touch his shell but his legs...not so much. He pulls them into the shell when I go there. I was picking him up one day and he was using his little foot to try and push me off. Soooo funny. I don't enjoy torturing the fella, so please don't misunderstand. But he is unintentionally comical at times. Like when I see his head up above water and he's watching me in the next room, but when I walk by, he ducks his head down very quickly. It's like he's curious, yet frightened (naturally, since I'm a giant!).

[steve]

I will literally put food in front of his face, touch his mouth with it, and he stoically keeps his mouth shut.

I wish I could see that

[Impulse Shopper]

I wish I could see that

It's kinda funny He's so silly and cute He just lets me hold the food right up to him and he just ...stays still. Mysterious fellow. I know he knows how to open that cute mouth. I swear I see him frowning sometimes. Funny little guy. This will be an interesting long term relationship and I will continue to provide excellent living conditions for him, to the best of my ability. In it for the long haul