Why is my tortoise hissing at me?!?

Question

Ive just brought a six month old tortoise. Im pretty sure hes hissing at me when i pick him up because he wants to show he's peed off, BUT i wanna check its nothing more than that, like hes ill or something? Thanks x

I brought him from a good friend of mine, and she has loads of them and always takes care of them. Trouble is it makes me jump when he hisses and i nearly drop him. lol x

Answer 1

Tortoises instinctively pull into their shells whenever they feel threatened. The action of pulling in its head and front legs compresses the tortoise's lungs, which causes them to exhale suddenly -- that's the hiss you hear. It doesn't necessarily mean that the tortoise is angry or upset; it's just following its instinct for self-preservation.
Once the tortoise realizes that you're not a predator, you're just its Human (and that you may have food!), it will often come right back out to see what's up. Shyer tortoises may take longer to lose that instinctive fear of being approached or picked up, but eventually most of them do learn to relax a bit. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

He's telling you to stop picking him up. Most tortoises will hiss and one of my female russians and my male hiss at me even when I try to pet their shells. Tortoises dont feel safe when they're being picked up because it makes them feel that they are being taken into the sky by a bird that wants to eat them.

The hissing is normal. Hopefully, in the long run, he will get used to you. Most tortoises become happy, friendly members of the family. My three russians love us, especially Emi(my big girl). She loves to be pet and begs for attention.

Have fun with your new friend! There are many years of happiness before you if you take care of him right. As many as the rest of your life! Tortoises outlive their owners if given proper care. So good luck. Have fun.

Answer 3

A tortoise hiss is normal when it retracts it's head inside the shell. A tortoise doesn't breathe like we do and the hiss is simply it expelling air from it's lungs as it withdraws it's head quickly.

I hope this helps. If he is eating and drinking normally and has clear, shiny eyes then all is OK.

Answer 4

Hissing is usually a sign it is uncomrftable. The most common hiss is made when it quickly pulls its head in the shell, and the air that gets pushed out makes the hiss.

It does this when it is surprised, scared, feels threatened, etc.

That it is a little afraid of you is not a surprise- compared to it, you are a giant!

For a great care site, try http://www.tortoisetrust.org

Answer 5

Nearly all turtles and tortoises do this. Captive or otherwise. It's just a natural reaction to being picked up and retracting it's head. If anything it says its healthy. If it sounds like it's wheezing when it breaths, it might have a respiratory infection. Other than that, it's fine. Good luck!

Answer 6

To make room inside the shell, some turtles sometimes have to exhale air out of their lungs, which makes a hissing sound.

Answer 7

He is showing he dosn't like to be picked up my turtle hisses when I scare him by picking him up but once he realises it's me he stops. He'll get over it.

Answer 8

Where did you get it from? Is he from outdoors or did you buy him from a pet shop/raised in captivity?
If he is a wild tortoise, he is in fighting mode because you interfered with him. If he/she is a captive bred reptile, maybe there is a problem.
Good luck!

Answer 9

Your tortoise is probably not comfortable when you pick him up.

Answer 10

I have seven turtles and they hiss when they are mad at me