Other Turtle Discussion :: Why does my turtle try to bit me....................

[oobie58]

Ok so usually when i take him out of his tank to go outside he just goes in his shell. Now he sticks his head half way out and keeps his mouth opened. how do i make him quit?

[Turtle_Turtle]

lol i have the same problem hope someone answers so i can find out too

[rmicklit]

Mine has only ever tried to bite me once. Maybe you just have a cranky turtle.

[Safdar]

lol, put food in it
no,
They think your fingers are food

[DavidY]

I think it's an instinctive reaction. My big female RES used to do that all the time whenever i picked her up. Now she doesn't seem to mind anymore and she just looks at me like, "where are we going now?" But if I put my finger in front of her she gets the insane "I'm starving and I'm going to eat that!" look and tries to get a good bite. It's pretty scary, really. Aside from that she's always really nice. The two smaller males are a little shier but they don't try to bite and they seem to be more comfortable around me now.

I think it's a phase that they go through. Just continue to be calm and gentle with them and if they seem irritated more than usual, keep the handling down to a minimum for a while.

[megcornell]

My turtle is snappy like that as well. I just accept that picking her up is stressful to her and keep it to a minimum. She's quite content to stay in her tank and beg, so I let her be

[kaimarion]

She probably thinks your food lol .

[Tenodera]

Nah, turtles are not like dogs. They can't be trained not to bite. He's trying to tell you he feels threatened. Besides, turtles aren't really interact kind of pets.

[SpotsMama]

Turtles have moods. When my turtle is in a bad mood he tries to bite me. At other times he's positively friendly. Things that put him in a bad mood are being dry docked and being moved from one habitat to another.

[Safdar]

May i ask a quick question
Whats being dry docked?

[SpotsMama]

Dry docking just means keeping him in a dry place - like a box - out of the water. It's usually recommended when a turtle has physical injuries or shell infections to help him/her to heal. You can dry dock for a few hours, overnight or for all but an hour a day depending on the circumstances. Spot's recently had a shell injury which is why I had to dry dock him.

[industrial_girl_2000]

Some turtles are just naturally more snappy than others. I have used the "put food in the open mouth" approach, which works pretty well & tends to make them close their mouth more. But it is really up to the turtle. Some just get stressed when they all of a sudden get picked up by a gigantic animal (you!). They think you are going to eat them & they are in a very vulnerable position. If I was in that situation, I would probably bite too! LOL.

[oobie58]

Will aquarium salt relieve stress?

[Safdar]

Itll help fight fungus

[kenaz]

aquarium salt?