get my turtle to like me

[rolling-thunder]

how would i get my turtle to like me more. He is been in my house for around 2-3 months and he is still quit scared and goes into his shell when i walk past.
He is less scared but i just would like to know how i could get him to like me faster.

If anyone has some tips that would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[gecko-mad]

its just instinct. happens with mine to and ive had him for 3 years! onc i pick him up he instantly comes out and just sits there.

 

[derekm]

Is he underwater or basking out of the water when he goes into his shell when you walk past? My turtles almost always rapidly (and clumsily) head straight for the water if they are basking when anyone walks past. However, if they are already in the water and they notice people walking past, they generally come to the edge of the tank for a closer look.

 

[-Peter]

Does it have places to hide. They like to feel secure.

 

[Shonfield]

just handle it and over time it will like you more and more

My turtles almost always rapidly (and clumsily) head straight for the water if they are basking when anyone walks past. However, if they are already in the water and they notice people walking past, they generally come to the edge of the tank for a closer look.

mine does exactly this too ^^. He will even start splashing water every where if he thinks he is gonna get some food.

 

[mike83]

try holding some food into the water when its feeding time u may have 2 hold it really close to him under water but eventully he will just swim up to the top of the water and take it from your fingers

that should get him used to u alot sooner hopfully

 

[mckellar007]

i used to always hand feed mine, so now every time i go near the tank, i have all 5 swimming up against the glass trying to eat my fingers. and three of them werent even there when i was hand feeding, i think they have just learnt off the other ones that if they swim, they get food, also they were in our dining room, so they got alot of traffic and intereaction!!

 

[obsessive]

3 months is too soon for your turtle to "like you". Give it time to associate you with food and he will love you. This usually takes about 6 - 12 months. If you get into the habit of taking it out of the tank and into a container filled with water for feeding this can also help the turtle see you as a friend and less of a threat.

Different turtles have different tempraments. I have some turtles that love being handled and are slapping the surface of th water when I walk past, and others that look at me and swim the other way.