Expert: Mark Adkins - 11/6/2004

Question
I have a red earred slider about 8 inches long, approx 6 in wide,  think its a female by looking at size/thickness of her tail. I've had her for almost 3 years.  She hisses when stressed - or at least i think she does.  She makes this hissing sound when i clean her tank and she will keep doing it until I get her tank back to the way she likes it. I tried to change the rock formation to the other side of her tank but for more than an hour she made that sound every few minutes or so swimming over to where the rocks were originally. I moved the rocks back and the hissing stopped .My husband thinks I am insane,am I ? lol   She'll see me and she'll start swimming very fast back and forth and if i don't go to the tank she'll climb onto the basking area and knock her shell into the glass until I go to the tank.She does this only with me, not him or my children.I am the person that feeds her but I really think she knows when i get home from work by my voice!  Never knew turtles had personalities but this one seems to. what is your opinion on this?

Answer
Turtles in general have distinct personalities. Some are quite shy, some curious, etc.

I have heard a lot of stories like yours- in which a turtle obviously recognizes its keeper. I don't think it is that unusual- it associates you with food and other good stuff. My favorite tortoise used to nip my toes lightly when he wanted food- and only MY toes.

The only 'off' bits here, to me, are:

1. Turtles do not hear. They recognize vibrations, but no evidence for voices. So, she may know when you get home, but not by voice. Perhaps a combination of other vibrations (time and door close, etc.?)

2. Long-term hissing is strange. Most hisses are very short duration- a few seconds would be a long hiss. Many hisses are just a noise caused by the sudden withdrawl of the head, compressing the lungs.

I'm not real worried about it- it is just odd and indicitive of her unique personality!