Other Turtle Discussion :: Why does the turtle cover it's eyes?

[metal_idol]

Hello,

I bought a baby red-ear for my little brother and we've had it for nearly 8 months now. It's growing well and is pretty OK around people and spends most of it's time growing bigger, swimming back and forth, eating, floating, nudging rocks and staring. It takes a keen interest in anything/anyone that goes by the tank and if you put your toes or fingers against the glass it'll swim right up to it and start covering and uncovering it's eyes repeatedly. If you move wriggle your toes or fingers he'll chase them to keep doing the whole "peek-a-boo" schtick. Is this normal for a turtle to do or is there something wrong with it?

Thanks a bunch,

~Elle

[marisa]

Welcome. What I'm imagining from your description is that your turtle puts his paws out in front of his eyes and moves them back and forth very quickly so that it looks like he's covering and uncovering his eyes. If this is what s/he's doing, your turtle is fluttering his paws. If your turtle were male (we don't know the sex since your turtle is only 8 months old and must have a shell length of less than 4 inches---RES display/start displaying sexual characteristics at around 4 inches) sexually mature, and doing this to a mature female, it would be the beginning of the mating ritual. Turtles (both male and female) can also do this to each other to show whose dominant.

Turtles can also fixate on objects and flutter at them for whatever reason. I have a painted turtle that does this to the probe on his digital thermometer. My RES has special rocks that he spends lots of time fluttering at (his "girlfriends," I think). It's not unusual for a turtle to do. If your turtle is fluttering at fingers and toes, think of it as turtle kisses.

[cprcheetah]

Okay so I have a question about that...Zeke does this constantly when I am in his room. Does that mean he is 'fluttering' his paws at me? So it's sort of lite flirting?

[steve]

I've never heard of a turtle doing it to a person as a "flirt" but more as a territorial signal. But then again, who knows what they are thinking of

[cprcheetah]

So would he be telling me to 'get out of his space' so to speak?

[steve]

Not sure, mine have rarely done it to me on occasion and that was before they were sexually mature. Are you sure it's fluttering (with arms, paws and nails extended)?

[cprcheetah]

He does extend his arms and his claws, but maybe he's just swimming...still getting used to his turtle antics/behaviors. Learning more and more every day. I will try to get a picture of him doing it.

[marisa]

They do fixate on objects. Territorial is a possibility, but he also could just be attracted to the shape of your fingers, whatever.

[scripta_elegans]

I had just read this when I noticed 2 of my little turtles doing this to each other back and forth. I am sure that it was a territorial display. They were in a too small tank, but now they are in a 75 gallon, and I haven't seen the behavior since. The funniest thing is that the smallest turtle seemed to be the main instigator. They are so funny!