Do Pet Tortoises And Turtles Show Affection? | Tortoise Owner (2024)

Pet owners everywhere love it when their little or large friends give love back. Who wouldn’t want snuggles from a cute puppy or to listen to the loving rumble of a cat’s purr? But what about tortoises – do they get attached to their owners? Are our scaly friends affectionate like a mammal or bird pet?

Do tortoises and turtles show affection? In their own way, pet tortoises or turtles show affection to their owner. Of course, tortoise and turtle affection is quite different than mammal affection. But they do use body language, scent, and sound to show some sort of affection and love.

Trying to figure out if your tortoise or turtle cares about you can be tricky. Reptiles show affection so differently than mammals, it’s hard for us to understand. Thankfully, you have us to help you break down some ways that our slow-moving, scaly friends show their affection. Bonus: we’ll show you how you can show your tortoise and turtle that you love him or her, too!

How Do Tortoises and Turtles Show Affection?

A tortoise or turtle won’t go running up to you and beg forpets or to cuddle. Instead, they will likely just sit in one place and becontent with your presence. Turtles tend to do the same thing.

Turtles and tortoises like to watch their humans whenthey’re feeling affectionate. They may seem particularly interested insomething you’re doing nearby.

A long, stretched out neck in your presence sometimesindicates a desire to be scratched or rubbed. This is a sure sign of affectionwhen he leans into your touch and closes his eyes.

While they don’t jump up and down, tortoises and turtles doboth get a little excited when you first enter the room, hoping you have sometasty treats. They may walk toward you or pace the enclosure to get yourattention.

Tortoises may touch their nose to your hand or arm to show affection. This is a common behavior in the wild and is a social behavior.

A tortoise or turtle roaming the house or garden may showaffection by following you around. They might bump against you for some pats orsimply stay a few paces behind you. You can encourage this behavior by talkingto her and showing her that you see her.

What Emotions or Feelings Do Tortoises and Turtles Feel?

Torts have a wide range of emotions, just like you do. Whilehumans haven’t figured out all of the things tortoises and turtles think andfeel, we have figured out a few.

Tortoises and Turtles Show Curiosity

A curious tortoise will likely be poking around and lookingabout its enclosure. She may be looking for something tasty to nibble on orjust getting those steps in. A girl’s gotta keep up on that gorgeous figureafter all.

Tortoises and Turtles Show Boredom

Bored tortoises and turtles may turn to destructivebehaviors. They may overturn water dishes and food bowls, dig up plants, or trydesperately to climb out of the cage. Get that tort some toys or a nice playsession out of their enclosure!

Tortoises and Turtles Feel Friendship

As for feelings toward other tortoises, some species mayenjoy having a friend, but that is up to the individual tortoise. Always doyour research before adding cage-mates, though. Many species of tortoise liketo live alone. And if you do have more than one tortoise in an enclosure, besure to triple the space they are kept in. All tortoises are territorial andmay not take too kindly to their buddy ruining the place.

Turtles however, can sometimes do better in small groups,usually up to two or three. But the same rule applies to them as it does withtorts. When housing multiple turtles, triple your space. Since turtles areaquatic, this can be pricey. You may also need multiple or larger baskingspots. And never put the guys with the girls, they just can’t help themselves.

Tortoises and Turtles Feel Jealousy

Jealousy is a powerful feeling, no matter your species.While reptile jealousy isn’t quite like human jealousy, it can result in thesame kind of behaviors. This is mostly between males. Male tortoises andturtles likely won’t get along well with other males. This is especially true ifthere are females around, but is often just a case of manly reptile posturing.

What Other Emotions Do Tortoises and Turtles Show?

Like most living things tortoises and turtles will have a widerange of emotions that can be hard to define. Some of these feelings will befear, joy, and anger.

For example, a scared tortoise will pull its head and limbsback into her shell. Some may even try to run! That’s pretty obvious the tortis scared, even to humans who don’t hide in a shell. Turtles will also pull backinto their shell if scared or threatened. We will also hide, run or otherwiseshrink back in fear. This is body language we can understand.

Some people wonder if these shelled creatures can feel pain.The answer is a resounding yes! They are capable of feeling both physical andemotional pain. We can see them wince when they are hurt, and feelings ofsadness, loneliness, and grief are painfully obvious.

Do Tortoises and Turtles Feel Love?

There is a debate among some reptile keepers on if our scalyfriends can feel love. We personally like to think they are capable of feelingthis emotion, but it’s hard to get a real answer from a tortoise or turtle.

If they show us affection, are interested in our activities,and show sadness or loneliness when we’re not around, that sure sounds likelove to us! What do you think?

What Does a Happy Tortoise or Turtle Look Like?

A scared tortoise is recognizable. They obviously show fearby hiding or running away. But what about happy feelings? Tortoises don’t jumpup and down, laugh, or smile, so how do we know they’re happy?

A tortoise who is content and happy will most likely just sit in one spot. His limbs and head will be relaxed and out of the shell. This is the typical ‘just chillin’ stance. Sometimes a content and happy tortoise may even go looking for their preferred human.

In some ways this is reminiscent of cats and how they showaffection to their person. Of course, your tortoise or turtle won’t be kneadingyour leg and purring, but it’s no less adorable when they come to find you.

The bottom line is that a happy tortoise will be chilling out, basking, digging, or being out in the open. A happy turtle will be swimming, basking, munching on things, and being social. Both animals will hide if they’re scared or otherwise unhappy.

We wrote a detailed account in this article called “How to Tell if Your Tortoise is Happy and Healthy”.

Do Tortoises and Turtles Recognize Their Owners?

Yes, both tortoises and turtles can learn to recognize theircaretakers. This does take time, but turtles and tortoises are very smart. Theywill learn your scent, sounds, and behaviors. They will come to associate youwith food and safety.

When you enter the room, tortoises will look up and possiblycome to you looking for treats or neck rubs, and turtles will swim excitedlyback and forth in their tank for your attention.

These reactions vary on the individual however, and how muchtime you spend interacting with your tortoise or turtle. While this recognitiongrows over time, sometimes the tortoise or turtle will warm up to you quickly.

Do Tortoises and Turtles Bond with Humans?

This is a little tricky to answer. Humans are pack animals,so we like to form bonds with almost everyone and everything. It’s why so manypeople generally have dogs, since dogs too are pack animals. Even cats can beconsidered pack animals as long as they are in a close-knit group rather than alarger pack like canines.

Tortoises and most turtles are generally solitary animals.They naturally like their privacy. However, in captivity some tortoises do seemto express recognition of their owner, even fondness. Whether or not this isdue to them associating us with food is unknown, but it is nice to imagine thatyour pet tortoise truly loves you and sees you as a safe place.

It would, of course, take a good deal of time for yourtortoise or turtle to become this close to you. They are long-lived andpurposeful creatures. Nothing is a rush for them. But if you are getting atortoise, we would hope you planned on having a lifetime friend anyway. Trustus, it’s worth the wait for a sweet tortoise nose boop!

Granted, no pet should be a sudden decision. Do yourresearch and then find that perfect companion. Tortoises, and some turtles livea long time, and so many begin to form a close bond with their human, but thenare thrown out due to their larger size and specific needs. Tortoises need lovetoo, so please do not make a rush decision.

That little painted turtle in the pet store can get quitelarge rather quickly.

Conclusion

Can a tortoise or turtle show affection? Yes, it can!Tortoises and turtles show affection in different ways than a human or dogwould. Yet, both turtles and tortoises are definitely able to show affection orat least a preference when it comes to their human friends.

A tortoise may enjoy getting a nice neck rub from time totime and maybe even a lovely brushing of their shell. While it is not clear ifthis is a fluke or a tortoise trait, there are some reptile keepers who saytheir pet tortoise or turtle comes to them for affection. Tortoises and turtlesare very intelligent, so it is not hard to believe that they can form bonds andlove their owners.

As always, pay attention to the signs your tortoise orturtle gives you. As you grow to learn more about each other you will form abond that could stand the test of time itself, just like the tortoise’s toughexterior.