Handling

[Kelly.324]

Hi,

I’m looking for some advice; I got my tortoise in November last year when he was about 3 1/2 years old.
He was very nervous when I got him and he’s slowly become a lot less so as I’ve kept handling limited.
However, I’d like him to get to a stage where he would approach me for a head stretch and that sort of thing.
Are there any tips for helping him to become more confident around me and more tolerant, even like, being handled?

Any advice much appreciated

Thank you

 

[Ben02]

Hi,

I’m looking for some advice; I got my tortoise in November last year when he was about 3 1/2 years old.
He was very nervous when I got him and he’s slowly become a lot less so as I’ve kept handling limited.
However, I’d like him to get to a stage where he would approach me for a head stretch and that sort of thing.
Are there any tips for helping him to become more confident around me and more tolerant, even like, being handled?

Any advice much appreciated

Thank you

Take it nice and slow you don’t want to stress him out, hand feeding works well for this. My yearlings have just started letting me scratch their necks/heads.

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Bribery goes a long way.....

 

[Tom]

Hand feeding helps. So does lots of desensitization. To get him used to whatever you want to do, do whatever it is you want to do.

They are all individuals. Some will readily accept this sort of "attention", others will get used to it in time, and some will remain reticent.

 

[Kelly.324]

Thanks everyone
He does hand feed, although it did take awhile to get him to do that.
I think I was just too cautious not to over handle him as I think that’s what happened in his last home, he was often taken to nursery and passed around the kids, so no wonder he’s nervous.