Turtles make a good low-maintenance pet choice. But unlike pets such as dogs and cats, these hard-shelled reptiles do not express emotions very well. It can be challenging to tell whether the pet is happy or not, especially if you are a new pet turtle owner.
Do turtles have feelings?
Turtles and tortoises have feelings. The level and range of feelings in these reptiles are lower than in humans. Their emotions are more complex and tough to register but range from day-to-day feelings of fear to deep feelings such as depression.
New owners would have a challenge reading their pet turtle’s emotions. But with time and familiarity, you will have an idea of what is expected and what’s not with the pet. Let’s look at feelings exhibited by turtles and what the primary triggers for these feelings are.
1. Boredom
Do turtles get bored? It is a question you might ask yourself when you see your pet just chilling in the tank.
Yes, turtles can get bored even though their boredom feelings might not be as visible as with other animals. Boredom occurs when there is nothing for the turtle to do. It is unlike us humans, who suffer from boredom after repetitive tasks or when we can’t find new exciting options.
So as to prevent this boredom, the pet can engage in hunting, swimming, digging, and climbing.
Activities For Combating Boredom in Your Pet Turtle
1. Hunting
Hunting is a healthy activity that makes the turtle exercise, keeps it well-fed, and acts as a source of entertainment. You can create blocks and obstacles for the turtle to navigate for it to get to the food.
In addition, you can purchase feeder fish and allow the turtle to hunt. It will be a fun activity for your pet that will also keep boredom at bay. Ensure that you only get fish or live food that is safe for the turtle. Animals such as goldfish are poisonous, and you don’t want to end up killing your beloved pet.
2. Swimming
For aquatic and semi-aquatic species, swimming is one of the critical activities to keep a pet turtle from boredom. It is what they often do when not resting or basking. For you to encourage the turtle to swim, you need to provide it with enough space. Ideal tank size should adhere to the recommendation of 10 gallons for every carapace inch length of the turtle.
3. Digging
Digging is yet another activity to keep the turtle active. Most turtle species enjoy foraging and scavenging. Some turtles are known to be good burrowers in the wild, and those genes are still active even when the pet is in captivity. It is also believed that turtles lived underground in the past; thus, no wonder that these pets love digging.
Where possible, put the pet turtle outside for a few minutes and allow it to burrow. Ensure that the animal is under supervision as it might get lost or be attacked by predators. Another thing you may do is add substrates such as sand, small rocks, or gravel to the tank.
4. Climbing
Climbing might be surprising, but some turtles are great at climbing. It is common to see some climbing on heaps of dead vegetation, rocks, or logs to either bask or for no apparent reason in the wild. Box turtles can surprisingly climb very high trees.
If your environment allows, give the turtle something, it can climb and watch the pet navigate. Ensure that the item is not fragile and will not allow the turtle to climb out of the enclosure.
2. Loneliness
Turtles are pretty anti-social, so loneliness is not something they experience since they prefer being alone. In the wild, they hardly interact with other turtles. However, some species can be seen stacking up on each other when basking, but that’s just it.
These reptiles primarily interact during mating and remain alone for the rest of the time. They don’t have families, and even their hatchlings do not receive any nurturing; they learn to survive independently.
3. Jealousy
Jealousy is different for turtles compared to humans. But what humans and reptiles have in common is that this feeling is quite strong, and it manifests in various actions.
Jealousy in turtles is more common in males. Male turtles hardly get along and frequently fight if placed in the same enclosure. It is even worse if there is a female around. To avoid this, place territorial turtle species in separate tanks.
4. Depression
Depression is a deep feeling, and sadly, a turtle is bound to get depressed under stressful conditions. It might be shocking, given that they exhibit a stern demeanor and seem to be tough reptiles.
Causes of Depression In Turtles
1. Poor living conditions
A turtle in captivity needs to be provided with ultimate care. Some things to consider in its habitat include appropriate tank size, clean water, a clean tank, and a proper filtration system. You should also ensure that the turtle has a good basking spot whose temperature is appropriate for the species.
Provision of UV light source is also vital in their environment. Turtles can also get depressed if their environment is too loud, so you should avoid noisy music or prolonged vibrations.
2. Overhandling
A turtle can get stressed if a human or another animal keeps attempting to play with them. Turtles don’t like being touched, so multiple attempts to touch the animal can be pretty depressing for the animal.
Avoid touching a turtle, especially if it shows signs of stress when handled.
3. Sickness
Ill-health is also another common cause of depression in turtles. When experiencing illnesses such as vitamin A deficiency, shell decay, parasitic infection, abscesses, or respiratory diseases, the turtle will get stressed and might eventually get depressed.
Depression in a turtle can manifest in the animal being withdrawn, no longer basking as it used, not eating well, and even having health problems. Ensure that you give your turtle an environment and living conditions that are as stress-free as possible. If you have ruled out any of these, take it to a vet for examination, the depression could be because of sickness.
5. Pain
Pain is an indicator that something is a miss. The message originates from the brain and lets us know where and how severe the pain is. Turtles have nerve endings on their body including the shell. As such, they too are capable of feeling pain.
When the shell is hit, scratched, or rubbed, the turtle feels it, and it is common to see the animal retract if it thinks it is in danger. A turtle should not be mishandled, because just like humans, its body is also sensitive to pain.
6. Happiness
We have talked about the negative feelings, but what about the positive. Do turtles feel happy?
Turtles are capable of feeling happy, but you will not see them laugh or smile. They will show signs of appreciation and affection to demonstrate their happiness. You can tell that your pet is happy if it attempts to crawl up the glass when you approach it or enter the room.
A happy turtle will also follow you if outdoors or attempts to touch your hand when feeding it.
To make the turtle happy, ensure that their habitat is warm, they have a basking area, sufficient UV light, and a balanced diet. If it hisses, snaps, or attempts to bite, leave it alone.
Do Red-Eared Slider Turtles Have Feelings?
Red-eared slider turtles are semi-aquatic, freshwater species. They are a popular turtle pet choice owing to their beauty, ease of maintenance, and affordability. Sadly, they are also one of the highest released turtle species into the wild from captivity by owners.
These slider turtles are more friendly, interactive, and sociable than most of the other species. It may not be evident during the first days after the turtle gets home. But with time and getting used to the new environment, their true personality will become apparent.
Red-eared sliders have feelings. They are territorial, and when placed with other turtle species in the same enclosure, they will bully them. It is, therefore, best to keep a red-eared slider in its own tank.
Further, red-eared sliders can get depressed. Although more sociable than most of the other species, they too prefer to be left alone most of the time. They like privacy and time alone. If you try handling and red-eared slider when it needs you to leave it alone, it will hiss at you.
They also have feelings of aggression. These turtles exhibit more aggressiveness compared to other pet turtles. Aggressiveness in these reptiles is often triggered by it being around food when mishandled or threatened.
As with most turtles, red-eared sliders also feel pain. Their shell has nerve endings, and the animal will feel pain if subjected to pressure. They may not cry, but if you have studied their behavior well, you will notice the animal retracts if in pain.
Red-eared sliders are more interactive, so they show feelings of happiness or affection better than other species. The turtle may splash or act playful when you are around, more than other pet turtles. Even so, red-eared sliders are still not as expressive of emotions as cats and dogs; if you want a more touch, cuddly pet, a turtle is not the best choice for you.
Do Red-eared Sliders Bond With Humans?
Humans are social animals; they enjoy the company of others and like bonding with pretty much everyone and everything. It’s why most humans keep pets and want to know or believe that their pets love them in return.
Red-eared sliders and turtles, in general, are solitary creatures. They enjoy privacy and prefer spending time alone. Turtles hardly live in groups. Even so, pet turtles can recognize and grow fond of their owners. It is not a one-day process, but it takes patience and consistency.
A red-eared slider may recognize the owner by seeing them as they have a strong sense of vision or smell.
To bond with your red-eared slider pet, you can hand feed them, teach them to play with toys, let them sniff at things, and teach them to respond to their name. They may associate you with food, treat, and games, but it is good to know that they recognize you and your presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Turtles Like Being Touched?
Turtles are cute, and it is tempting to pick them up and hold them in your hands. However, most turtle species don’t like being touched. For such, it would be best not to touch them or pick them up. They will show signs of withdrawal and stress when you do so.
Some other turtle species don’t mind you petting and touching them. The best way to touch a turtle is to observe complete care; they may bite you or hiss. Ensure that you don’t pick this hard-shelled animal by the tail or when using one hand. In addition, stop touching the turtle if it shows signs of stress.
Do Turtles Cry?
Yes, turtles often cry. However, they don’t do so because they are sad or overjoyed; they cry because their eyes have glands through which their body removes excess salt. The tears help bring balance to their bodies.
Do Pet Turtles Show Affection?
Unlike pets such as cats and dogs, turtles don’t show emotions by cuddling or other obvious affection signs. Their show of affection is different. A turtle will show appreciation by splashing when you are around, following you in the backyard, attempting to touch your hand when feeding it, and other subtle affection signs.
Conclusion
Do turtles have feelings? Yes, they do. Turtles can feel jealous, bored, pain, get depressed, or even lonely. In addition, they can also feel happy, which is something you should maximize. Knowing what makes your turtle happy will go a long way in strengthening the bond between you and the pet.
A turtle that is all of a sudden withdrawn for long might be sick. In such a case, you should take the reptile to a vet for a checkup.
With a healthy environment, ideal diet, proper hygiene, enough space, and avoiding handling the pet, you can be sure that your red-eared slider or another pet turtle will remain happy.
