Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's an interesting question (or maybe just a stupid one on my part). Do box turtles recognize people by sight, or by smell, or sound? Since Nora's eyes are closed does she know who is giving her these needles? Or can she sense it is me by smell, repetition or sound? I am not talking to her when I give the needle, as I really don't want her to know it is me. I don't know about land turtles, but I know that my water turtles who are basking jump into the water and hide behind something and peak out to look when someone new comes into my house. They must associate me with food, as they will continue basking or come over to get something to eat. The babies will jump in the water sometimes. So will Nora associate me with pain if she knows its me...will she forget...DOES she know it's me?

I have had to give two or three of my turtles antibiotics via injection over the years, and I have never noticed any changes in behavior.
Other than their generally being more active and alert as a result of feeling better and recovering from their illness or injury.

The first year I had Mikey he got sick. I had to give injections in his front legs. For a couple months after that whenever he saw me and would tuck his front legs in and scoot away from me with his back legs. I just fed him and started by staying away at him comfort space (where he would eat with me at that distance). After he seemed ok, I decreased the space between us a little until he was comfortable again. I kept doing this and it took a couple months but he stopped being afraid of me.

I know mikey recognizes a lot of things by smell. He puts his nose right up to things to smell them, so I think even though she cannot see you she may still know its you. Mikey knows me by sight and sound. If I call him he comes running out of his hide. I always call him for food and he runs to the side of the tank I pick him up from and then I feed him out of his cage. If someone else calls him he doesn't usually come out. He also looks at people's faces often. He usually hides when strangers are here.

I think they all recognize us by all three senses you mentioned- sight, sound, & smell.
My aquatics were hatchlings when I got them. I used to have to start talking before I walked into their room or I'd freak them out. Today they couldn't care less if I walk in the room but if a stranger comes in they're jump off & hide immediately.
Last year when I took in Chip the box turtle I had to give him injections but by the time we were finished with that he felt so much better that he wasn't afraid of me.
He was so hurt, so sick, I think he realizes it was me who helped him through it. For a couple of days when he had the feeding tube in, he was so knocked out by the drugs he couldn't see me but he knew it was me who was there..I'm sure he could smell me.
Ditto for Shell E 5 years ago.. I can call her by name & that little head will pop up to look at me wondering what it is I want.
I am convinced they know us but they don't hold a grudge forever because we had to give them injections.
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PHRatz