Tortoises are fascinating creatures that make great pets for the right owners. With long lifespans, gentle demeanors, and relatively simple care needs, they form bonds with their human caretakers over the years. But do they truly feel love and affection for their owners like dogs or cats might?
Read on to learn the surprising truth about tortoise emotions and relationships.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: While tortoises likely don’t feel love or affection in the same complex way mammals do, research shows they do recognize their owners and can form positive associations with their presence, voice, touch and scent through conditioning over time.
Tortoises Have Basic Emotions and Form Bonds
Tortoises experience basic emotions like fear, pleasure, excitement and aggression
Reptiles may seem cold and emotionless, but research shows that tortoises actually experience a range of basic emotions like mammals and birds. Studies using behavioral tests found that tortoises demonstrate feelings of fear, pleasure, excitement and even aggression.
For example, tortoises show signs of feeling safe and relaxed when handled gently, but become withdrawn and afraid when threatened. They also enjoy exploring new spaces, seeking warmth and sunlight, and interacting with cage mates.
Their emotions may not be as advanced as human emotions, but are still important for their well-being.
They recognize owners through sight, sound and scent over time
Many tortoise owners wonder “do tortoises like their owners?” An interesting tortoise fact is that they can actually recognize specific people. According to veterinarians, tortoises identify their owners through familiar sights, sounds and scents.
When a trusted owner approaches, the tortoise will often walk towards them in greeting. If handled frequently from a young age, tortoises begin to associate their human caretakers with safety and rewards like food or affection.
With enough positive interaction over weeks and months, the tortoise sees their special person as a friend rather than a threat. So while they may not feel affection like a cat or dog, tortoises can distinguish owners from strangers.
Handling and interacting with a tortoise strengthens your bond
Building a bond with your shelled friend takes time and trust. According to pet behaviorists, regular gentle handling helps reinforce the unique connection between tortoise and caregiver. As you continue to feed, bathe, exercise and relax with your tortoise, it learns to see you as a consistent source of good experiences rather than something scary.
Experts recommend speaking softly, moving slowly, letting them see and smell you first before contact, and keeping sessions brief but frequent. This positive association creates a feedback loop – the more a tortoise interacts with you, the more comfortable they feel, which makes them seek you out more in future.
While each tortoise has its own personality, forming a habit of pleasant interaction cements you as their special human.
Tortoise Brains Are Wired Differently Than Mammals’
When it comes to brain structure and function, tortoises are very different from mammals like dogs, cats, and humans. Here’s an overview of some key differences that affect how tortoises bond with owners:
Their brains are geared more toward instinct and conditioning
The tortoise brain is dominated by the basal ganglia, responsible for instinctual behaviors and conditioned responses. Their cerebral cortex, which handles complex cognition in mammals, is very small. This means tortoises rely more on instinctive behavior and learned associations than conscious thought and emotion.
They likely don’t feel complex emotions like love and attachment
Because of their simpler brains, tortoises probably don’t experience complex emotions like love, attachment, or bonding. Their interactions with owners are likely driven by conditioned responses and instinct rather than emotional connection.
For example, a tortoise may learn to associate its owner with food or safety, but not form an actual social bond.
But they do see owners as a positive part of their environment
While they may not feel affection toward owners, tortoises can still see them as positive presences in their environment. With regular gentle handling and care, tortoises become conditioned to see owners as non-threatening and associate them with good things like food, warmth, and security.
So they are receptive to owner interaction, even if they don’t feel bonded.
Signs Your Tortoise Recognizes and Trusts You
Comes over when you enter the room or hears your voice
One of the most telling signs that your tortoise has bonded with you is if they come over to investigate when you enter the room or call their name. Tortoises have excellent hearing and a strong sense of smell, so they can recognize their owners by voice and scent.
If your tortoise lifts their head, walks towards you, or climbs your leg when you come around, it shows they are comfortable with your presence.
Allows handling without retreating into shell
Tortoises that feel safe and secure with their owners will allow gentle handling without withdrawing into their shell. Of course, every tortoise has unique personality quirks, but a relaxed and curious tortoise that doesn’t mind being picked up or touched is a positive indication that a bond of trust has formed.
Eats calmly in your presence
Prey animals like tortoises will often refuse food if they feel nervous or unsafe. If your tortoise has a healthy appetite and eagerly eats in front of you, it’s a great sign they see you as a trusted caretaker, not a threat.
This shows they have confidence you’ll protect them while their guard is down during feeding time.
Gets excited when you interact with them
Some tortoises, especially young ones, will demonstrate their enthusiasm by walking quickly in circles or ramming their enclosure when they see their favorite human. While this behavior shouldn’t be reinforced too often, as it can become neurotic, it does indicate your tortoise knows and looks forward to interacting with you.
Gentle tortoises will also show their happiness by stretching their necks, closing their eyes blissfully, or making quick snapping motions with their jaws.
Ways to Strengthen Your Bond with Your Tortoise
Handle them frequently and gently when young
Tortoises that are frequently handled when young will be more accustomed to human interaction as adults. Gently petting, holding, and hand-feeding young tortoises helps build trust between you and your pet. Always support their body fully when picking them up and never drop or shake them.
Move slowly and speak softly to avoid startling them. With regular gentle handling when young, your tortoise will likely enjoy your touch when fully grown.
Hand feed them favorite treats
Hand-feeding your tortoise creates positive associations between you and food rewards. Offer small pieces of favorite fruits or vegetables by hand daily. Let them see and smell the treat in your palm first so they know it’s you providing the yummy snack!
This helps reinforce your bond and encourages them to approach you. Just be sure not to overfeed treats, as obesity can cause health issues in tortoises.
Sit calmly and read, play music, or talk to them often
Spending quiet time interacting with your tortoise helps build trust and comfort with you. Sit calmly near their enclosure and read, play soothing music, or chat softly to your pet. This regular positive exposure to you engages their senses and establishes you as a consistent, non-threatening presence.
Over time, your tortoise will likely feel more secure with you. An added perk – the relaxation benefits you both!
Give them space to explore safely when out of enclosure
Allowing your tortoise to roam and investigate helps satisfy their curiosity and energy needs. Set up a safe, enclosed tortoise playpen regularly so they can amble around. Scatter their favorite foods to discover and provide items to climb over and hide under.
As your tortoise explores their space, sit calmly and interact gently. Offering this autonomy combined with your positive presence helps deepen your bond based on mutual trust and care.
Ensure Your Tortoise’s Health and Happiness
Provide the proper diet, lighting, temperature and humidity
Providing the optimal diet is crucial for your tortoise’s health. They need a diet high in fiber from leafy greens and hay. Variety is key – offer different greens like kale, collard greens and dandelion greens. Supplement with vegetables high in vitamins A and C like carrots, squash and broccoli.
Don’t overdo fruits, which are high in sugar. Make sure to offer calcium supplements 2-3 times a week. Proper UVB lighting, heating and humidity are also essential. Tortoises need 10-12 hours per day of UVB exposure. Use a reptile UVB bulb over part of the enclosure.
Ideal temperatures range from around 75-95°F with a basking spot around 95°F. Humidity should be 50-80%. Use a humidifier or moist substrate if needed.
Give them adequate space to roam and hide
Tortoises need room to walk around and explore. An outdoor enclosure or at least a 4×2 ft indoor enclosure is recommended for each tortoise. The more space the better! Make sure the enclosure has areas to hide like fake plants, logs or turtle shells. This gives them security and reduces stress.
Also be sure to give them opportunities for climbing with rocks, ramps or logs. Fun exercise is vital for their health.
Enrich their environment with toys and obstacles
To keep your tortoise engaged, add enrichment items to their habitat. Rotate different toys like balls, tunnels and treat puzzles to prevent boredom. Scatter their greens around the enclosure instead of piling in one spot to encourage natural foraging behavior.
You can also use cardboard boxes, sticks and fallen tree branches to make little obstacle courses for them to climb over and explore. A more complex environment stimulates their mind.
Watch for signs of illness and stress
It’s important to monitor your tortoise for any concerning signs of illness like weight loss, lethargy, runny nose or wheezing. Isolated white spots on the shell may indicate fungal infections. Red flags for stress include lack of appetite, pacing and hiding more than normal.
If you notice anything abnormal, schedule a vet visit right away. Tortoises are masters at hiding illness, so don’t delay. With early treatment from an experienced reptile vet, most issues can be resolved.
Conclusion
While tortoises may not feel affection for their owners in the same way other pets do, they can still recognize and form positive relationships with their human caretakers over time. By caring for a tortoise’s needs, interacting gently, and getting to know his unique personality, you can create a rewarding, lifelong bond with your reptilian friend.
With proper handling, enrichment and care, your tortoise can live a long, healthy and happy life with you by its side.
