Other Turtle Discussion :: Does your turtle bite?

[JenniferandPaws]

When we adopted our RES from a couple that was moving, they told us they had not handled her much because they were under the impression that you weren't supposed to. It seemed as If the turtle didn't get much attention with them anyway, but since we've had her, we've made sure to hold her a bit more so she gets more comfortable being held. She is one of the most social turtles I've ever seen. Our 3 year old daughter will stand outside of the tank and giggle and laugh, and our turtle gets so excited that someone's there looking at her! Everyone that comes in our house always comments on what a social turtle we have, but anyway .. I have two questions.
Even though she loves to get attention, she does snap here and there when held, or If you get too close to her face.. I'd like to know If your turtles do the same!
Also, I've never seen a turtle beg like she does.. We have her in the living room so she always has company, and is not locked up in a room somewhere.. But as soon as I step into that kitchen, she splashes her arms and bounces up and down. She goes crazy! It's amazing.. LOL

[Pizza]

The same thing about the splashing and attempting to climb out and reach for food when I feed my turtles. It makes an extra big splash with my 11 inch turtle, I have to wipe the walls with a cloth to get the water off.

I have never tried to see if my turtles bite, and I don't intend to, since they mouths are big enough to devour my thumbs. They do scratch a lot though when I pick them up, and without gloves, it hurts a lot. Sometimes I put my finger up to the glass when they're swimming, and they mistake it for food, and attempt to bite at it, so...

[Kallistos]

All turltes will bite, actually some may say it's a sign of health/alertness. Within the turtle species your turtle may be social, but in the animal kingdom, turtles are very solitary animals. Frequent handling is stressful and not encouraged. My turtle bites, and got a good chunk of my thumb and it started to bleed, be careful and make sure the little children don't lose their top knuckle. :Mrgreen:

[CountryGirl68]

Your friends were right. RES are not supposed to be handled much. Not many people have RES that allow them to handle them much. Mine scurries around the tank when its time to clean out the tank. He hates being handled. So far, I've been lucky: no bites and no scratches; but I'm very careful when I grab him. Usually, he ducks inside his shell but occasionally, he'll stretch out and push my hand with his paws.

The excitement your turtle is showing everytime someone is near the tank is because he's already associated humans with food. I love seeing my little man do that. Even though I know it's because he wants food, I enjoy it.

[SpotsMama]

My turtle is real social. I handle him - not for long and always very gently - nearly every day, to check his shell etc - and he's gotten used to it and doesn't run from me any more. In fact he swims up to me when I go to pick him up.

But bite? Sure, he'll bite me if given a chance. It's in their nature! I'm just careful not to let my fingers get close to his face. I usually use a little towel to hold him because he'll scratch too and I want to be able to keep a good grip on him so he doesn't get loose.

[industrial_girl_2000]

I have been handling Sheba for the full 17 yrs I have had her. She flatly refuses to bite out of aggression (only if she thinks something is food, then she opens her mouth). She doesn't like to be held for long periods of time & usually just pushes really hard with her hands & feet in an effort to make me put her down on the floor so she can walk. I put her down, and she follows me wherever I go. Gentle interaction/handling is not a bad thing. Especially if you handle the turt, then give him/her a small bite of food immediately when you put them down.

I know some turtles may get stressed from handling, but I have had such dramatic successes with handling my turtles in the past that I won't stop handling them. My first turtle, Binky (2" painted), was handled *constantly* when I got her (she was my little buddy when I got her at the start of summer vacation from school & I took her everywhere with me). She was so comfortable being in my warm hands that she used to fall asleep when I would sit in front of the TV (I think she loved the warmth & began to associate me with not just food, but warmth as well). My mom & dad could tell you this too since they witnessed it personally. It was amazing.

[marisa]

My painteds will bite if they get the chance (always looking for food). If I handfeed my RES, however, he will sniff before he takes the food, and hasn't missed and gotten me in a really long time. If I have no food in my hand, he just sniffs. I think he know my scent well enough to know it's me and that my hand isn't something to eat.