Why do Red eared sliders bit there owners if you rased them since they were young?

Mine are like that too! I have a deep respect for them and I am very careful reaching into the tank! lol I would like to keep my fingers!





Anyway, turtles don't like to be held. The only time I handle mine is to measure and check their overall health. RES tend to be very aggressive and can never really be tame. Also I feel it's their natural flight or fight, meaning compared to turtles, humans are HUGE! lol. Act like you are a turtle for a minute and then imagine something tall looming over you! Then imagine a claw ( your arm) reaching for you. Scary isn't it? I think it's the same for turtles.

Why do Red eared sliders bit there owners if you rased them since they were young?
They don't like being handled.
Reply:They are not mammals that bond with their owners. They are reptiles that may recognize you as a source of food, but not as a 'friend'.





In fact, from their point of view, you are an alien giant creature that sometimes blesses them with food and sometimes terrorizes them by picking them up really high for no reason they can figure out.
Reply:Self defense.



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