General Care Discussion :: I think my turtles hate me

[Turtlefriend]

Whenever I come into the room, they swim away to the corner of the tank. I hope that its just because they need to get used to their new environment. Is there any way for them to get used to me?


P.S. Is it possible for a thermometer to be broken? I have a glass one and it stays the same temperature but the water feels a lot warmer or colder sometimes, even when the thermometer is the same. Or is it just me?

[kikicool]

Hi there turtlefriend! How long have you had your turts? I have one turtle that warmed up to me quickly, and another (which I've had longer) that STILL hides from me. They both still go flying off their basking docks when I come into the room. It's not personal--it's instinct. A few people here advised me to try handfeeding. Seems to work, but I can only get the more friendly of the two to try. I just hold a pellet half in the water, and let go as soon as he grabs it. I can only do one pellet, then I just give him the rest.

Oh, also someone told me to let them out now and then, and to let them walk on you etc. so they get used to you. Well, mine just leaped off of me like I had the plague. Didn't work.

Yeah, it's kinda sad when you go through all the trouble of trying to make them happy, and they still run away from you, right? In time, they'll warm up... a bit. Really!

[SpotsMama]

Are your turtles pretty small? When they are tiny - and especially if you haven't had them long - they are typically shy and skittish. It's normal for them to run and hide. They can't be sure yet that you won't eat them!

Eventually, they'll learn that you're their friend (ie, you feed them) and they'll run towards you rather than away. Depending on the turtle's personality, this will happen sooner or later. Some may not get really confident until they've gotten pretty big, 3" or 4". Some get confident while they're still small.

And I don't think a glass thermometer would break in the sense you're asking about. More likely it's you. A glass thermometer can, however, shatter. If you see your turtles biting it, you'd better get it out of there. You can put it in the water or on the basking surface from time to time to be sure the temps are still ok but only while you're monitoring the situation.

[kikicool]

Oh yeah, forgot about the thermometer. Why not take it out and run it under cold water? Or, put it on a hot plate out of the dishwasher and see if it changes?

[Turtlefriend]

I know it changes cause i put it under the basking dock for a little bit and it goes up. Just that i feel the water as warmer and cooler than before and the thermometer stays the same. Maybe its just me.

My turtles are only about a month or two old so they probably just need some time. They seemed friendlier when they were in thier little lagoon bowl thing when i first got them.

[pumpkinsherbet]

since the temp they're kept at is on the neutral side, sometimes you need to wash your hand in colder water for a few seconds. then stick a finger in there. if it feels warm, you're okay. if it still feels cold you may need a new thermometer.

i doubt the turtle hates you. animals, esp. babies, are always skittish when feeling out a new environment. aeryn's gotten a lot bolder with me this last week, and john actually had me worried because he went from very active to always hiding. they're funny creatures

just give them good conditions and let them get used to you.

[mkoby]

Sometimes the water in my tank seems colder too. I contribute this to my temperature at the time. I've noticed that if I'm chilly, the water feels warmer and when I'm comfortable it feels colder.

[Turtlefriend]

Thats probably why it feels cooler and warmer. I think my turtles are getting used to me. They still swim away when i come in, but they come back after a little bit. Also, how do you know if you are underfeeding a turtle? My turtles dont eat the food pellets...but they eat their poop sometimes.

[SpotsMama]

Are you sure they're not eating their pellets? Could they be eating them when you're not around?

[pumpkinsherbet]

yeah, john won't eat around me. aeryn will be a little hog, though, and she doesn't care if i'm there or not. john did poke his head above water a little bit and he didn't swim off when i came to say hi.

[Turtlefriend]

Im pretty sure they dont eat thier pellets. They go up to them and see them but they dont eat them. Ill see if they eat them while im away. They like the shrimp though.

[rocketright]

They don't eat the pellets because you are babying them! Shrimp should be fed once a month or once every two months, they will only eat that, unless you give them a thing called "Touph Love". You need to cut the pellets in half and don't feed them any shrimp... Only as a treat. And just let them get used to you, it may take a year, but it's their natural instincts!

[Turtlefriend]

I just enjoyed watching them eat. OK. I`ll feed them only the pellets with shrimp every once in a while.

Thanks

[Turtlefriend]

Cool. They eat the pellets now.
They also eat grapes and carrots.
A quick question:What do you do with the excess food they have?

[Pizza]

Well it depends how long the food has been in the water. If they stopped eating the food, and it is still relatively new (eg. being dropped in a few minutes ago), the leave it in there.

Once it sinks and/or begins to get mushy, looks nasty (use your common sense for this), then fish it out and dispose of it. Any food in there over 2-4 hours should be removed.