All Turtles Message Board

Smashdance · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:34 am Post subject: Hissing...Are They Mad at Me?

Ok, so, everytime I clean out their tank, my turtles hiss the entire time they are out of the tank. When I pick them up to get them out, they hiss at me. I can only assume that this isn't good. My cats hiss when they are mad, so that is what I am relating it to. Does anyone know if they are really mad at me? Sad

Bbasso · Level 3 Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 139

My guys used to do that but with countless hours of holding them and showing them I'm not there to hurt them they have learned not to hiss. But once in a while I'll spook them and one might hiss for a second.

Smashdance · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 2:05 pm Post subject:

Well, thank you for letting me know that mine aren't the only ones! I will have to try to pet them and hold them a little more. I think I am a little put off by it and a little scared they will clamp down on a finger. Does it hurt when they nip? I can't imagine it being too painful.

Bbasso · Level 3 Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 139

My guys are not small any more and when they do bite by accident when feeding (they don't try to bite on purpose) it hurts like crazy!!!
keep your fingers clear! please.

STRAYKINGFISHER · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject:

About two days ago, I was playing with my turtles, one I just talked baby talk to, but the other, I kinda did like alot of fathers do to their babies, kinda make like you are going to toss them in the air but don't let go, well, he didn't like it one bit and hissed at me, I did it again and he hissed again, so I stopped Laughing

I am thinking he was either scared or just pissed off that I did that Very Happy

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dixieee · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 5:34 pm Post subject:

their bite isn't that bad, it will hurt for seconds and that's it Smile

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Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

Smashdance · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

Well, I haven't had the pleasure of being bitten yet, so, I'll try to avoid that! I wouldn't want my finger to go through what their feeder fish do!

evilnissan · Level 2 Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Posts: 48

I havnt gotten bit yet but my GF has.. And from the way she started to panic it hurt real bad. Laughing

TallysMom · Level 2 Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 60

I think it depends on how big they are -- and also what the intent is. I hand-feed my almost 7-inch RES a lot, and sometimes she will grab farther than she needs to and gets her jaws on my finger, but it's not any worse than pinching with your thumb and fingernail.

dixieee · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

ur turtle is gentle Smile

i heard once that their beaks become sharp and pointed when u feed them too much meat. that's when their bite really hurts Question

_________________
Wed 10/27/2004 is the worst day..i lost my best friend Leo

so now i have a female RES, Green, and a cute stupid male YBS, Mint

5/4/2006 RIP Lemon, u were my first rescue and i'm so proud of u. will never 4get u

VersteckterGeist · Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject:

out of my three turtles, only one likes to hiss, the other likes to bite (well attempt to, since he's too small), and the last one likes to poop on people... Sad

i guess it depends on the turtle's mood and their personality.
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Toolshed05 · Level 2 Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 50

man i guess its just my RES's that bites hurt.....i got bit a little bit ago and it was very painful....he bit the side of my index finger and pulled his head into his shell still w/ my skin...and pulling jsut wasnt an option....it hurts ! and myfemale is a doll, as long as u look her in the face and talk nice shes quite content.but anytime they get picked up they scratch the heck out of my hand w/ the feet