biting us
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#ygrps-yiv-2100302177 p {margin:0;}Somehow, my year old two terrapins have decided that they like to bite us, when given the chance. Anyone have experience teaching them not to do that? We feed them in a separate bucket, and they will carefully take food out of our fingers, but when we are working in the tank, they actively try to bite us. Would they respond to “calm petting actions” on their dock, or lightly, but quickly thumping them on the head when they try to bite? I think I am feeding them well, and they don’t bite each other, or even the fish in the tank. Thanks, Kate in California
___ That is interesting. I do think yearlings more frequently than any other age of terrapin can be biters. Now my older ones will bite at my toes when I am cleaning the pond so now I wear wading boots. I am afraid at that age scare tactics is probably the only thing you can use. Like shoo them away when your hands are in tank. They are always curious but mine have never went after my fingers except when taking them out to feed. Two different ones when yearlings. One out grew it. I think they will know a difference in the hand that feeds them and the hand that shoos them away when cleaning the tank. I don’t like mine to be afraid of me though so I would probably just place them in the container you feed them in rather than a scare tactic or ouch getting bitten. I think there is a good chance they will outgrow it. I am curious to see if anyone else responds. I can easily see it happening but I take mine when cleaning the tank. Lisa
I don’t think my 8 terrapins have ever not gone after my fingers…. they won’t go after anything else on me just my fingers… i think they resemble shrimp or something… they confuse it with food. I have never thought of training them to not bite … I figure that this is just how they are and if I get bit its my own fault… I always warn people not to stick their fingers too close over the tank with these turtles….. none of my other turtles try to bite me though. LISA- FANTASTIC to see you back!!! I also wondered if I could email you off-line because I am in the process of turning my 3000 gallon rescue slider pond into a dbt pond and would love to pick your brain! Michaela
Yep, I am back of course it’s day by day, just been busy trying to stay healthy. My turts are a big part of my life they keep me moving. Drop me a line I love to talk turts and ponds. Gosh I know I learn more about both everyday. We are already planning a new pond! Sorry you have so many biters. I don’t feed mine anything alive I always figured thats why they were less likely to bite something moving. But some of mine have attitude and I guess flesh is sort of pink like shrimp. Most of mine can be handled easily since I handle them alot. But some of the younger ones they will try to nip me sometimes.lisalee@…Lisa
I completely understand the keeping healthy and your a strong woman and a lot of people are here for you, including myself! Oh gosh they don’t bite at me outside the tank just inside… I put them into individual tubs for feeding… they see though that my fingers are where food comes from and i guess assiociate that with food and bite. But they are good not to bite me outside the tank. I think i’ve only given them live food once and that was when they were really young. Excellent Lisa I will email you tomorrow about everything tonight I have some studying to do. Michaela
Lisa, every time I see you post, it makes me smile…knowing all you have been and continue to go through. You are a strong woman indeed.I wish I could have a large outdoor pond for DB’s like you have. And now Michaela is going to get a 3000 gallon pond going as well. I’m stuck here in MN so I don’t think that’s ever going to happen for me. Maybe I’ll win the lottery and retire in Hawaii.God Bless,-John
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