about a 3 months ago I got my turtle a heater for the water. Ive had him fo a year and before I got him the heater I would always take him out for a while so he wouldnt be cold all the time. he liked coming out of the tank then because he would always climb on of my hand when it put it in there and when i'd put him back he would move from my hand. it was so cute. I also had a gold fish that grew up with him in that same tank. They would never bother each other. My turtle is growing but still small he can still fit in the palm of my hand. Lately I've noticed my turtle snapping and chasing at my goldfish. A few weeks ago, when the weather got colder I put my 2 guppies in the tank too so they can be by the heater too again Iv been observing them & my turtle still chases and tries to bit my gold fish but not at the guppies. Since I got him that heater I haven't taken him out or handled as much too. A couple days ago I took my turtle out and he opened his mouth and i think he hissed at me.
2006-12-16 02:05:41 · 5 answers · asked by mayris 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Well, first of all, this is actually common behavior for turtles. There are several factors that are dependent upon the behavior of your turtle: the type of turtle it is, how long you have had it, the sex of the turtle, its environment, its diet, and whether you allow him "roaming" time. These are main ideas that are relative to how aggressive a turtle may be. I recommend researching as to the type of turtle it is, and then studying about it species and habitational requirements. Turtles may acquire and adjust to just about any type of environment when they are young, but, if they are old, as with anything old, it is hard to teach them new tricks. A word of advice as well - turtles like for their spine and shell to be rubbed and being gentle with them, never doing anything which may result in them staying in their shell for a long period of time; this is very aggravating and genuinely upsets them, and they do remember. Turtles, however, can be kept with fish and other animals - you just need to know the type of turtle it is and the type of fish, because it is more than likely the fish upsetting the turtle. Hissing is very common for a turtle, because it is a reptile and all reptiles hiss when they are provoked or are agitated. Check his water temperature and coincide with the species requirements for the type of turtle. If you can let me know what it looks like: color, eye color, tail(length and thickness) and shell color - I may be able to help you further. Should you need anymore help or advice, let me know.
2006-12-16 10:41:27 · answer #1 · answered by AllStar 85 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Before you had the heater, your poor turtle was sick and cold. The heater is helping it act more naturally.
2. Your turtle is snapping at the fish because turtles eat fish. They select their food based on size- too big and they won't eat it, but may harass it. Too small and they ignore it.
As your turtle grows, the size of the prey it wants grows as well.
3. Healthy turtles really don't want to be handled much. If it has a nice, healthy habitat, it would prefer that to your hand (although your hand is usually warm!
You can learn more about turtles at http://www.austinsturtlepage.com Some really great info there!
2006-12-16 12:23:39 · answer #2 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turtles eat fish, don't keep them together anymore!
I guess it's coz he's grown bigger and knows how to defend itself.
It used to be scared, but now it's irritated by you since it's bigger.
That and the fact that maybe it's not used to you anymore.
2006-12-16 03:09:08 · answer #3 · answered by celestelauuuuu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snappers are naturaly aggressive. i hit upon with my 5.5in snapper that coping with him does mellow him out. i feed mine in a seperate feeding tank which skill determining on him up each and every a million-2 days. the in effortless words time he seems to get authentic aggressive at me is after I pull him out from less than his log by technique of his tail. Personaly i do not carry his foodstuff both, i attempt no longer to positioned my fingers everywhere close to his head, I actually have had him almost a twelve months and characteristic not in any respect been bit in effortless words becouse of being very careful no longer to enable my hand everywhere interior 3in of the front 3/4 of his shell. once you may carry his foodstuff i propose a pair of feeding tongs, actual received at petshops like petsmart petco for bambo ones, or in case you keep them sparkling and dry you may be able to get off with what's going to prob be somewhat more interior your budget metallic ones from a ironmongery save. i does no longer enable each person on the point of him both, he could in effortless words be dealt with by technique of someone experienced with him, that is a sturdy be conscious for all reptiles. I gave you a link for what to feed him below, and as for him bulging out of his shell, that seems rather uncomplicated. snappers are merely fats.
2016-11-26 22:34:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess he's just being more assertive and finally coming out of his shell :)
2006-12-16 02:15:19 · answer #5 · answered by Proto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋