Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had Fagalo, my Eastern Boxie, for a year and a half. He's a WC rescue. He's always been an excellent eater- but very secretive. He wouldn't eat if I was around- would only run away. So I'd have to fill his plate with whatever- nightcrawlers, slugs, then set him down in it and quickly leave.

All that changed a few weeks ago. I went out with my box of worms. Fagalo was peeking out of his peat/leaf pile shelter. He perked up, instead of withdrawing! Hmmm, I thought. I called him, and dropped a juicy nightcrawler in his cookie sheet feeding area. He came running! Since then, he comes bursting out if I so much as glance in his pen, and will even try to sit up and beg to eat out of my hand, lifting one front leg up off the ground.

What happened??

My other boxie, a Florida, who was in over the winter being treated for pneumonia but went out in the spring, and then turned shy, also now peeks out of hiding and doesn't run away. I have to drop worms in front of him, but it's a lot easier than feeding the two in shifts- filling the cookie sheet then disappearing so they could eat.

They are so funny...

Nanci

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*****
0.0.1 Classic Corn, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

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>>What happened??

I think he decided it's ok to trust you.
Shell E is the box we've had longer than any others. She wouldn't eat in front of me in the beginning either. As time went by she got to the point where she doesn't just ask for food, she demands it when she wants it & she will take it right out of my hand.
I think she just got used to me, used to being here, used to being fed.
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PHRatz

"What happened??"
I think your turtle worked out a simple equation:
Human=food=good.

Apparently the other turtle has learned by watching- he now comes running out, too, and will eat out of my hand. It's so much fun I take a lawn chair out and sit by their pen and toss nightcrawlers in. It's like feeding the sea lions at the zoo!

Nanci
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*****
1.0 Classic Corn, 0.1 Lavender, 0.0.1 Cali King, 0.1 Nelson's Milk
1.0 Tricolor Hog, 0.1 Eastern Hog, 1.0 Florida King
1.0 Eastern Box Turtle, 1.0 Florida Box Turtle
0.0.2 Desert Torts, 2.0 Feral Pigeons

>>Apparently the other turtle has learned by watching- he now comes running out, too, and will eat out of my hand. It's so much fun I take a lawn chair out and sit by their pen and toss nightcrawlers in. It's like feeding the sea lions at the zoo!
>>
>>

Nanci sounds like fun!
I always call them monkey see, monkey do animals.. they do tend to imitate one another. They are funny little things.
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PHRatz