Always mad

Cagirl5

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I have a 3 year old sulcata that's always mad! You look at him and he will go into his shell and hiss. You walk by and he hisses. You touch him and he hisses. Anyone else have a tortoise like this? How can I help him? Lol He is around people all the time, he's just always grumpy.
 

Carol S

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He sounds scared to me. Be patient with him. Talk softly to him and gently touch him. Hand feed him treats. He will learn that you are not going to hurt him.
 

wellington

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Also approaching from above scares them. That's where their enemy's that would want to eat them would be coming from. If mine see me first, they don't get scared. If I come from behind or side and they can't see me, the will pull In and hiss until they know it's me and I'm not going to eat them
 

Cagirl5

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I've tried sitting with him and if I move, just the slightest bit, he will pull into his shell and hiss. I've tried feeding him by hand too and he does the same. Maybe he's just sensitive and scared. Just seems odd that he hasn't gotten better, even though he's been here his whole life. Just curious to see if this was normal? But i'm thinking he just likes to be left alone to do his tortoise things. lol
 

leigti

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He's not his scene because he's mad, the hissing sound comes from air escaping him when he pulls into his shell. How is his vision? I realize that's really hard to test in a tortoise. But maybe he can't see very well so he just noticed the shadows or sudden movements and doesn't know what they are. I'm just guessing here but it's a thought.
 

Big Charlie

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That's so sad! Charlie is very friendly and will come towards me when he sees me, but today I approached him from behind and he pulled inside his shell. I felt really bad about scaring him.

If he is 3, it seems surprising that he wouldn't have gotten used to you by now. You said he is always around people. Are there a lot of people? Maybe there are too many people around? If there are children running around, making lots of noise, or just too much activity, I think that might be scary for him. Does he have a place to go to hide?

I wouldn't touch him at all. That is something that any tortoise would object to unless they really trusted you. I never touch Charlie until after he has acknowledged me.
 

dmmj

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he's just scared not angry your what 20 times his size if something 20 times your size picked you up wouldn't you you hiss at it I know I would actually I probably do more than hiss. it will take time he will adjust but no one can say how long
 

Alaskamike

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I believe ( having had many) that animals all have some innate predisposition. In people we call it personality.

Some are bold , and not easily startled. Some freak at the slightest movement and change. And most are somewhere in between.

My Sulcatas have tended to be on the ' nothing bothers me - bring it !" End of boldness and curiosity. But I currently have a Leopard who needs quiet and slow movement around him or he disappears into his shell.

They really are all a bit different.

If you want him to be calmer around you here is a method to achieve that.

Get him out in a quiet place. No animals or other people around and sit on the floor in front of him. Stay quiet and calm. Put a little pile of good food in front of him.

Sit quietly and he will poke his head out to see what the food is.

When he starts to eat talk in a smooth calm voice to him. He will start to associate your presence and voice with good safe things.

Do this for a few weeks.

Also when you pick him up do it slow & gentle. Don't move him fast or abruptly.

I would not allow other people to pick him up at all. It only takes one person to jerk him up , to reinforce that something bad is about to happen. And if ever gets dropped it would take a very long time for him to ever trust again.

Animals take patience. Their instincts are self preservation. And he experiences the interaction with people as a threat right now. You can change this with patience & time. It is his fear that motivates him and he needs to associate you with good things not danger.

Good fortune to you
 

DawnH

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I think I remember Tom saying that most are pretty shy like that till 2 then they start to come out of their shell (sorry, couldn't resist.) Tuleo has just started to not pull in when we walk by and I pick up him daily to carry him outside. I make sure not to approach him from behind because I cannot even imagine what that is like for them (giant monster hovering over.) Do you have kids? Do they tease him or run up to him or anything? Does he have a favorite treat? I would maybe sit near him (not next to him) and offer bits of his favorite thing. Don't expect him to eat them from your hands, but if he can associate you with goodness that might change things. Sit, talk or read a book out loud with treats at your feet, then softly/quietly get up and let him be. Hopefully he will eat your offerings when your gone and associate you with goodness.
 

Cagirl5

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Nope no kids, just three adults. We all work during the day so he's outside grazing by himself all day. He has his own house that he sleeps in. Sometimes he comes inside and cruises around through the house before bed. I think all you guys are right about him getting scared so I'm gonna approach more slowly and see if that helps him. Nobody picks him up anymore because he's getting massive lol
 

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