Help! (Scared tortoise)

Eringarbe

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Jul 18, 2021
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Wisconsin
Hello. I just had a question about my tortoise.
I don't handle him a lot all I do is pet his back and lift him out on the ground sometimes. When I do pet him sometimes he hisses and gats scared and runs away trying to hide from me.
Is he just not comfortable? Am I doing something wrong?
Another question in his wrinkles he is dirty. With handling him he's so scared so I don't know how to clean him.
 

wellington

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Some tortoises always act scare and some get used to human touch. They all almost always will pull legs and head kn if startled.
I always handled my tortoises a lot when I first got them so they would be comfortable if I ever needed to take them to a vet or when I just needed to check them over to be sure they were okay.
Some people say don't handle much, others including me, say the opposite.
 

zolasmum

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I would try getting him gradually used to being handled by picking him up briefly every day and offering something he really likes to eat while he is in your hand - after a while he might learn to associate your hand with food, and accept being held for a few moments - then you can get him to stay for longer each time. It takes patience, but it is worth it.
Angie
 

Maggie3fan

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Idk.....need more info..runs away? My sulcata does a DEF hiss and means it.
Nope wrong. It is simply air escaping as he is surprised or otherwise and sucks in...seriously
@Yvonne, @Tom, @Mark84...those are 3 of our most knowledgeable members...
So you 'experts' do tortoises hiss like a cat on purpose...or is it air escaping????
hmmmmm?
 

Maggie3fan

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Nope wrong. It is simply air escaping as he is surprised or otherwise and sucks in...seriously
@Yvonne, @Tom, @Mark84...those are 3 of our most knowledgeable members...
So you 'experts' do tortoises hiss like a cat on purpose...or is it air escaping????
hmmmmm?
And...one of my favorite 'experts'... the infamous worldwide expert...the beautiful and funny...my friend (ahhh what's her name)??? oph my...
 

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