Contact with your turtle?

[SebastianTheGirl]

How much do you guys play with and touch your turtle? I read that you aren't supposed to touch them very often (I have a RES) but my friend said its better to have physical contact pretty often. How much do you guys touch yours about a week? How much contact should mine have with me?

 

[nicoleandrocky]

I pet my tortoise. But my friend who owns a RES doesn't touch hers unless she has to clean the tank or something like that.

 

[dmmj]

Personally I don't handle my turtles or tortoises unless I need to. I try to enjoy them in a natural setting as possible, but that is just me. You can handle your's as much or as little as possible. But if you are asking for opinions I think handling them as little as possible is the best way to go.

 

[JoesMum]

They aren't wild creatures, they're captive and personally I believe that they should be handled regularly so that they are not stressed by it.

That said, they are not play things, so Joe is only handled as part of his routine: soaks, moving him out to the garden/in to the house/ when the grass needs cutting/when we've had enough of the noise of him butting the wheelie bin... You get the picture!

 

[Merlin M]

I think to some extent it depends on the tortoise/turtle, mine sulks if I don't at least go over and talk to her as she is so friendly

 

[Madkins007]

This is partly a matter of your philosophy.

1. They are wild animals (insofar as they are not tamed or domesticated and have all their natural instincts and needs). Tortoises live in dread of a predator picking them up, so when it happens to them, they struggle. Most human interactions cause them at least some stress, so they should be kept to a minimum.

or...

2. They are pets, and like many other exotic pets, come to recognize and even appreciate human interaction as a good thing. Many people report that after a familiarization period, their tortoise seems perfectly happy being held, enjoys having their head and neck rubbed, and so forth. Some keepers go so far as to carry their tortoise in a pocket or sleeping with it.

or...

3. While this is a wild animal, a certain degree of human interaction is unavoidable, so it should be at least somewhat comfortable with casual contact and occasionally being moved, etc. To this end, there is a little physical contact almost every day to reduce the stress, but the contact is not overdone. Keepers in this category often find that their animals do seem to enjoy certain kinds of touch- most often having their heads rubbed or chins stroked. This is the track most zoos follow.

I generally prefer, recommend, and follow the third option.

 

[jaizei]

I would probably agree with option three, as well as what DMMJ said. I don't avoid contact, but I don't "play" with them either. Handle when necessary, but leave them alone most of the time.

 

[jonathan512]

i hold mine in the water i kinda use my hand as a lil basking dock while i hold em ,they seem to be relaxed when i do this rather than holding them in the air with just my hands . i like interacting with my turts, theyre quite used to me some ppl are real anal about how often to have contact with them its really up 2 u ur the one that payed for em or it. sure its a wild animal but like some of the others have said its captive bred cmon dogs and cats were wild animals at one point as well lol so its whatever ur comfortable with i think

 

[Turtleswagg]

i hold mine in the water i kinda use my hand as a lil basking dock while i hold em ,they seem to be relaxed when i do this rather than holding them in the air with just my hands . i like interacting with my turts, theyre quite used to me some ppl are real anal about how often to have contact with them its really up 2 u ur the one that payed for em or it. sure its a wild animal but like some of the others have said its captive bred cmon dogs and cats were wild animals at one point as well lol so its whatever ur comfortable with i think

yea i do that too, but roger keeps biting me

 

[jonathan512]

Ha ha ha he thinks ur hand is food , Butters does that too .hes my attack turtle anyone that sticks there hand in the tank gets attacked lol

 

[Laura]

#3, if you want an animal to 'play' with get a dog. or something that is domesticated.
Torts arent a pet for everyone.. young kids.. unless great supervision is provided. They are meant to be watched and enjoyed.. not played with.
My thoughts and opinion.

 

[Bow]

There's a big difference between tortoises who are vegetarian and turtles who are more omnivorous. Walter seems to enjoy being near me, if he's outside he'll come and sit on me. My Mom used to have a RES which she spent a great deal of time with, he was coddled and loved, and ended up biting off her friends finger (to the first joint) and eating it. I'd go with #3.

 

[Merlin M]

3. While this is a wild animal, a certain degree of human interaction is unavoidable, so it should be at least somewhat comfortable with casual contact and occasionally being moved, etc. To this end, there is a little physical contact almost every day to reduce the stress, but the contact is not overdone. Keepers in this category often find that their animals do seem to enjoy certain kinds of touch- most often having their heads rubbed or chins stroked. This is the track most zoos follow.

I think I agree with you on this too

 

[cmosuna]

How much do you guys play with and touch your turtle? I read that you aren't supposed to touch them very often (I have a RES) but my friend said its better to have physical contact pretty often. How much do you guys touch yours about a week? How much contact should mine have with me?

For me it's less about contact and more about presence. I don't really touch my pond turtles very often but the more they see me in the backyard to garden, to feed etc the more the recognize and approach me. With the tortoises many of them will seek out contact with me or my kids especially some of the red foots and sulcatas. If I sit on the ground one of my Sullies will come and sit down next to me. These things happened gradually and with some contact but mostly them just getting used to me being around all the time and the one that usually has the food. Some species like Desert Torts are usually very friendly and almost dog like, I have had some come sit on my shoe and beg for attention.
As far as the aquatics go sometimes I will wade in the pond and they will swim around me and beg for food. Some will eat right out of my hand and others will let me pet their heads occasionally.

 

[Kolorbl1nd]

I have a russian tortoise and I pick him up and hold him and talk to him. He is very sociable because of it. He looks people right in the eye and likes to be pet. When i let him out he comes right to me and curls up with me. Ive even had him fall asleep on my chest. He also gives me kisses. He smells my face sometimes and puts his nose on mine...as close as you can get to a kiss!!!! its up to what you want. do you want a sociable tort or a not sociable tort?