I have had sliders for coming on 19 years. I would say they 'love' me... to feed them. I think they can take you, or leave you. But that's okay with me. I still love mine and don't mind that mine hiss and snap at me when I take them out of the tank to either let run around the house or kennel when I clean their tanks. They are looking-at-pets, like fish, for the most part. In my opinion anyway.