Actually, 20 minutes a day to truest make him give in isn’t enough. If he’s small enough, go and sit down on a couch or so, SLOWLY stroking his shell until his head comes out, SLOWLY moving you hand on his head and then stroking that too. Also try shell rubs.Looks like you’ve got a salty guy
I do that he does like his shell being scratchedActually, 20 minutes a day to truest make him give in isn’t enough. If he’s small enough, go and sit down on a couch or so, SLOWLY stroking his shell until his head comes out, SLOWLY moving you hand on his head and then stroking that too. Also try shell rubs.
How about rubbed? Preferably the back? If it’s a big tort then use a brush and if it’s small use your handsI do that he does like his shell being scratched
So wait kissing them isn’t ok? Especially in the mouth?...I might need to go to the hospital nowHow recent is "recently adopted"? Torts can take 2 months or more to get used to new surroundings and keepers. Also, reptiles don't have the capacity to form emotional connections and "like" you. That part of the brain is simply not developed in reptiles. At most, you'll only achieve the status of "The thing that brings me food." or "The warm thing I can absorb heat from".
Just mild interactions during its baths and while in it's enclosure and it will slowly acclimate to you and not see you as a threat. Do not bother it while eating. Feeding from hand has no benefits for the tort and puts you at risk for a nasty nip. Reptiles harbor all sorts of bacteria in their mouths that can cause nasty inflammation and illness in humans.
about a monthHow recent is "recently adopted"? Torts can take 2 months or more to get used to new surroundings and keepers. Also, reptiles don't have the capacity to form emotional connections and "like" you. That part of the brain is simply not developed in reptiles. At most, you'll only achieve the status of "The thing that brings me food." or "The warm thing I can absorb heat from".
Just mild interactions during its baths and while in it's enclosure and it will slowly acclimate to you and not see you as a threat. Do not bother it while eating. Feeding from hand has no benefits for the tort and puts you at risk for a nasty nip. Reptiles harbor all sorts of bacteria in their mouths that can cause nasty inflammation and illness in humans.
Of course what you said is true, but this isn’t any ordinary animal. Tortoises are quite hard to get them to like you, the easiest being a red footed tortoise, and the hardest- a russian tortoise. That’s why I posted this, and it’s interesting how that rabbit was tamed, but I’m just investigating RTs for now, in case taming them is possible. I’ll try your method for 10 hours straight, by putting my entire hand inside of the enclosure. Thanks for the advice!I’m definitely no tortoise expert, but with small animals I think the usual thing is to just spend a lot of time with them so they accept you as part of their world and something that isn’t going to hurt them.
If the enclosure is large enough for you to sit in it, maybe just pick a nice day when you have little to do, take a book (or entertainment of your choice) and park yourself there for a few hours while ignoring your tort: don’t look at him, don’t talk to him, just read your book and let him go about his business. Keep doing this as often as you can and his attitude might change from “oh there’s something that could be scary!!” To “oh yeah that big animal is here again. NBD.“ When he starts chilling out he might come to investigate you, and then you can try touching him or hand feeding some tort safe foods?
That’s how I got a stray domestic rabbit I found running wild in our neighborhood to trust me after I caught him; I literally laid on the floor and ignored him until he decided to initiate contact. He eventually became the sweetest most affectionate bun, I’m still sad I couldn’t keep him.
For adults, I think it helps to keep them somewhere they can hear your voice and the noises of the household. I took in an adult ornate bt and I would talk with her every time I walked by her cage and gave her a few strokes on the shell. After about 6 months she will come out and see what I’m doing. In the picture it looks like her beak might be a little long, which might be uncomfortable. A vet can grind that down and then feed her on slate or terra cotta and that will keep it trim.i recently adopted a 8 year old tortoise and he is very timidi spend about 20 mins with him every day any tips to make him more friendly (he won't even eat from my hand)
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Torts and turtles don't hear airborne sounds very well, especially in the ranges of typical human speech. Their ears work similar to snakes... The ear is blocked by a membrane that blocks most sounds. They feel vibrations and low frequency (animals nearby that might step on them, or something coming down their burrow to eat them, etc) ... so if you like thumping bass rap music, it probably spooks the tort.For adults, I think it helps to keep them somewhere they can hear your voice and the noises of the household. I took in an adult ornate bt and I would talk with her every time I walked by her cage and gave her a few strokes on the shell. After about 6 months she will come out and see what I’m doing. In the picture it looks like her beak might be a little long, which might be uncomfortable. A vet can grind that down and then feed her on slate or terra cotta and that will keep it trim.
Just give him some time to adapt to his new environment. Tortoises aren't very interactive to say the least, but they do get used to you eventually. I talk to our tortoise whenever I handle him and stroke him very lightly on his head when it is out of his shell. He seems to like that . Sometimes when it is cold in the house, I will sit with him quietly on my chest near my heart to warm up and he puts up with that for a while too. Just be patient.i recently adopted a 8 year old tortoise and he is very timidi spend about 20 mins with him every day any tips to make him more friendly (he won't even eat from my hand)
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So wait kissing them isn’t ok? Especially in the mouth?...I might need to go to the hospital now