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the other day I reached in to pull Bobbi out (my bigger turtle)(I have to seperate to feed) and I noticed her making a low hissing like sound at me.

Squirt started doing it as well a few days later.

Both my turtles are "happier" when they are left alone but they don't tend to get to crazy when they are picked up, Especially by me.

Just curious if anyone else has heard their little ones doing this?!

Mine hiss as well, mainly when they are being taken out of their tank, like you mentioned. As long as the hissing is associated with not being happy, then you are ok. If you hear a hissing sound at other times, then it could be signs of something more going on...but what you describe is just like my turts. My female does it more than my male.

The hissing sound you hear is the turtle exhaling air. When they are frightened they tuck their head and legs inside their shell. In order to fit in their shell they have to let air out of their lungs.

Oh, I see.
So...will they ever get used to me and stop?

It doesn't bother me...I'd just rather have them not be scared of me.

Wow, perfect thread. Thanks for the info guys, I was wondering the same thing today when I was fixing up my tank!

If they're ducking their heads inside their shell, the air is being pushed out of their lungs as the head is retracted. It's pretty much an instinctive response to being startled (and sometimes what startles my RES is a mystery to me ). If you're making quick, jerky movements or picking them up quickly, perhaps being more slow and deliberate with your movements may help.

I've also heard turtles hiss faintly with their heads out of their shells (head was not retracted), usually in a situation where I'm guessing they feel threatened.

Yeah, Mr. Turtle used to do it all the time, usually if I touched him or got near him when he was walking around on the floor. To me it sounded like someone gasping for air, like when you are scared or something. Now he only does it when I clean the ickies off his shell.

Bobbi is biting now too
Just started doing that today, everytime I go to get him (or anything!)
It's amazing that these little guys can actually hurt. lol

sarah wrote:Oh, I see.
So...will they ever get used to me and stop?

It doesn't bother me...I'd just rather have them not be scared of me.

Nope, it's totally normal. My turtle is very used to me (not afraid at all) & if I walk up to her a little too quickly (or scare her by accident) sometimes she still does it......I've had her for 16 yrs. It doesn't mean they are necessarily afraid of you.