Other Turtle Discussion :: How to get my turtles to be less afraid?

[emma]

I have had them for over three years now. My female is fine, she loves to be held and never tries to bite at me.
One of the males is also fine. Doesn't bite or anything. But he doesn't like to be held or anything. He hates it when I try and take him out of the tank.

And the other male I can never even catch in the tank. I have to use a net. He hates being picked up and bites my finger any chance he gets.

Its been three years and I don't understand why the third male is STILL afraid. Are there any ways to make him become less afraid?

[marisa]

Some turtle just have more skittish personalities than others.

[blackforces get you]

it takes time to get into the comfort zone with you and or your family. they'll get used to you and interact and do all the things you want. it takes time and trust me it takes a while. mine are still a bit skittish but they still interact now and then when they want to

[steve]

I don't think I can hold any of my turtles for more than a minute before I get a ton of scratches. They are more calm when they're better supported, like when I have them against my chest and looking up at me.

[novroz]

I think 3 years is quite long...but turtles are like human, they behave differently. It took a month for kame to feel totally comfortable with me (she even slept on my thigh at that time)....but Kroten took almost 2 years to feel that total comfortness.

I think I notice is they tend to copy the other. Just give more time for that male to finally copy the others.

[emma]

I guess I will just have to accept that that is his personality.
Maybe in the years to come he will understand that I'm not going to hurt him.

[novroz]

Yes that is the best thing to do. He might get close one day after seeing the other turtles are okay with you

[theartbook35]

Turtles have individual preferences for handling. For example, my older turtle, Sadie, she will sit in my mother's lap but does not like it when I pick her up or pet her. Hurricane doesn't like to be picked up by anyone anymore. Typhoon will stay still in my hands and wrap her feet around my fingers, but will try to bite my mother if she picks her up.

BTW, Sadie is also friends with my cat, Spike. Whenever I clean Sadie's tank I let her wander around the apartment, and we always know where she is because Spike will follow her anywhere. Sadie will sometimes climb in his box, or stare up at him in this ute kind of way. Turtles just seem to attach themselves to certain people.

[novroz]

You have to shot that moment when spike is following sadie....I want to see it

[theartbook35]

You have to shot that moment when spike is following sadie....I want to see it

I'll try to get some pictures of them tomorrow when I clean her tank.