Stressed tort?

[John Franzwa]

My tort is eating fine and moving around and hiding and going to the bathroom and all, but I'm worried she's stressed out. Because every time I go over by her or her cage she always goes straight into her shell and rarely makes a hiss noise at me? Is this stressing her out? I also pet her to try to get her used to me is this making it worse? I have yet to have any improvement? And what bad things can stress do? She also has a hide I hope to get her another 2 soon! Thanks!

 

[wellington]

That's their only defense, is to pull inside. You tower of it. He doesn't know yet that your the food God and not the one that's going to eat him.
I'm into handling them daily. I have found with mine., the more I handle and or pet/scratch their shell of head the less they fear me. Some take a while, others don't.

 

[John Franzwa]

That's their only defense, is to pull inside. You tower of it. He doesn't know yet that your the food God and not the one that's going to eat him.
I'm into handling them daily. I have found with mine., the more I handle and or pet/scratch their shell of head the less they fear me. Some take a while, others don't.

So I'm not stressing her out by attempting to hold and pet her daily?

 

[wellington]

It might be stressing her some, it also might just be scaring her a bit. Once they get used to you most will become more comfortable with you, but most will still always pull into their shell, but will come out faster. This kind of stress/scared is minor. Stress from being bullied from another tort can make them sick or die. I have not had a problem with any of my torts cause I handled them. Even my hatchling gets handled daily and a few head kisses.

 

[John Franzwa]

It might be stressing her some, it also might just be scaring her a bit. Once they get used to you most will become more comfortable with you, but most will still always pull into their shell, but will come out faster. This kind of stress/scared is minor. Stress from being bullied from another tort can make them sick or die. I have not had a problem with any of my torts cause I handled them. Even my hatchling gets handled daily and a few head kisses.

Ok I was getting worried thanks, I have had her for 3 months with minor improvements

 

[ZEROPILOT]

....And the hissing is just air being displaced when she pulls her head in.

 

[Pearly]

I have 2 RF babies. One is bold and never pulls in, the other one is VERY slow to warm up but making steady progress. I've been handling them since the end of June'14! That's almost a year! I often give them little treat at playtime wanting them to associate all this handling with food that I often hand feed. Regular meals are not hand fed. My kids named the skiddish baby: Tucker (he "tucks in" all the time!) Patience my friend! Your baby maybe one of the cautious ones.

 

[JoesMum]

Even Joe, who we've had for 46 years, pulls his head in quickly like this. He is very used to being handled and definitely has his own opinions.

It's more likely to be when he's been snoozing and is surprised, but it can happen anyway.

Then he decides he needs to head- but your shoes and he's off again.

Completely normal behaviour.

Do handle him regularly so he gets used to it. Once the firm association is made between you and dinner time then the time spent hiding will be less

 

[John Franzwa]

Thank you all so much!