Any animal has a strange habit, turtle is also no exception. Turtle even looks at you every time you get close to the tank. In this post, Aquatic 247 will explore the question: why does my turtle stare at me? can turtles feel love?
Why does my turtle stare at me?
A turtle may stare at you for several reasons. We’ll examine each of the justifications and concepts below.
Your turtle wants food
The turtle is a relatively intelligent animal. Therefore, they might look at you if they know they will get food when you arrive.
The turtle can gaze at you expectantly when you are close because it knows you are the one who is giving food to it. This is the reason a turtle will start at its owner. After all, hunger is what drives most wild animals. It is a powerful force of nature.
Your turtle recognizes you
Can turtles recognize their owners? Over time, the turtle will gradually recognize you.
What does it mean when your turtle stares at you? The turtle staring at you may be part of this recognition process. At this point, it ensures that you are not a threat to it.
Some opinions also say that, after raising a turtle for a while, it will learn to recognize and turtle stare when you enter the room. This is the turtle’s silent greeting to people it recognizes.
Your turtle is fascinated
Turtles can be kept on their own in a tank, but they will still be fascinated by another creature near their environment. In fact, paying attention to the surroundings is a turtle’s habit.
So, turtles may be fascinated by you because of your large size. Compared to the turtle, you are like a giant.
Your turtle wants attention
Why does my turtle stare at me? Many people believe that turtles will stare at their owners when they want attention or help them.
If your turtle is well-fed but still turtle stares, this could mean it wants something besides food. In case, the turtle may be sick or injured.
Your turtle wants to show dominance
Your turtle may be looking at you in an attempt to assert their authority, depending on the breed and gender of the animal. Males are more aggressive and will attempt to assert their authority over females, as are many other animals.
Turtles may be looking at you to attempt and establish themselves as the “boss” over you after they know you won’t hurt them.
Your turtle is bored
Turtle tanks are not always the ideal place for turtles. So, the turtle may be waiting or looking for something to do. If you are worried that your turtle is often bored and staring, you can increase the tank size to provide more space and more rocks to explore, greatly reducing the rate of boredom.
Can turtles feel love?
Turtles cannot climb onto your lap and will not run after you every time they enter the door like a dog or cat. However, that doesn’t mean turtles don’t show affection towards you.
Turtles can recognize their owners and know where the food comes from. So the answer is yes to the question: can turtle feel love? Turtles can feel and show affection. That is expressed through two actions:
- Swimming or walking to the edge of the pool you are standing on.
- Staring at you.
Tips for keeping your turtle healthy, safe and happy
To make your turtle safe and happy, you need to provide it with the proper care. Here are some tips.
Clean your turtle tank twice a month
Maintaining a clean tank will help to ensure the safety, happiness, and health of your turtle. It is recommended to empty the tank and give it a good cleaning at least twice a month. To get rid of any potential salmonella bacteria, make sure you wash your hands completely afterward.
Provide your turtle with the right lighting
Get a UV light so your turtle may bask in the sun if you don’t keep it outside where it can receive natural light. To produce vitamin D and maintain the health of their bones, shells, and joints, they require UV radiation. Additionally, you should replace the UV bulb around every six months because they eventually lose their ability to emit UV light.
Avoid overfeeding
Turtles enjoy consuming food anytime it is available. These animals may occasionally fix their gaze on you when you pass by their enclosure in search of food. Due to their opportunistic eating habits, turtles are susceptible to obesity and fatty liver disease.
In conclusion
Why does my turtle stare at me? In most cases, it’s simply their way of communicating with you. We hope that reason has shed some light on this rather strange turtle behavior and helped you better understand what it means when your turtle stares at you.
