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

[industrial_girl_2000]

I haven't heard anything about aquarium salt relieving stress. As Safdar said, it helps prevent fungus issues in the tank.

There is always going to be some stress on the turtles....heck, they are in captivity! But you can alleviate some of it by "teaching" them that you are not a threat. One of my fav tricks is to divide their daily portion food into, say, 5 pieces, then every time you go by the tank, you give them a piece of it till all 5 pieces are gone. That way they get used to associating you with food. This works, but you have to be patient. And it may not stop the biting when you pick the turtle up, but it can help alleviate some of the stress with the turtle seeing you always coming so close to him.

[malekogirl]

they're thinking "AAACCKKK!! Get that big thing out of my face!!! Somethings trying to attack me!!"
That's what it seems like anyway. The larger of my 2 RES, Genevieve, always tries to bite. The smaller one acts like she wants to bite, but never does. And once i start stroking their shells, it SEEMS like they "relax".

[tissigirl]

Is he making biting movements, or just opening his mouth?

Mr. Turtle used to open his mouth wide, and even make a gasping sound, when I would pick him up. But he wasn't trying to bite. It was just his reaction to being startled. He'd leave it open until I put him back down.
I can't stroke his back though, it ticks him off. If he's on the ground and I do that he jumps away.

[Safdar]

Creating and Mainting a Healthy and Normal relationship
With your Turtles
Requires Food Tactics

Feed him half a pellet when u piss him off
When hes super happy Feed gim another half

Just make sure you dont over do it

You have to feed the turtles imotions

Its like taking your wife out for a romantic dinner and a movie
When you really pissed her off

[marisa]

Huh???

[Safdar]

You know
When you piss off your turtle and hes mad at you and he starts snapping

Feed him

When hes scared or skitish

Feed him

[Turtle_Turtle]

i tried the hand feeding with splash but she got something else that wasnt a pellet *ouch*

[Safdar]

Try
Put the pellet in your palm

Put your hand on the water so it creates a ramp
Dont let the pellet float away

Let splash come and eat!

[Turtle_Turtle]

no what i do is hold it in my fingers i dont let it float away

[Safdar]

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Hey tito is looking realy good! Your doing a good job at taking care of him

[Safdar]

Thank you

Turtle Turtle--Thats basicly it

[Tenodera]

lol your lucky your turtle is so gentle like that.

I just turned around and Serra was glaring at me.

[Safdar]

Serra- "cough up the reptomin buster!"

[Turtle_Turtle]

well i tryed doing it your way safdar but instead of eating the pellets she thought my fingers were the food so i got a couple more bites good thing they are babies