Your one stop reptile community - Totally weird question

Reticu-Lady · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2002, 06:49 AM

Ok, I have two turtles and a tort now [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Question: When I pet their backs/shells, can they feel me touching/petting them through the shell? Riot and Heidi will not let me pet their chins or tops of their heads, so, I play with their toes and pet their shells. So far, Snoopy, the tort lets me pet her head and chin. I really want her to stay tame, especially if she ever needs medical attenntion or toenail trimmings. Better to start her now while she's still a tortie pup, right?
Anyway, I was just wondering.
TYIA
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Ravnos · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2002, 05:11 PM

If you've ever seen the anatomy of a turtle, their spine is fused with their shell. While their shell is pretty thick, I'm sure there are many nerve receptors and such which allow turtles to feel you touching them through their shell. Of course, exactly what they feel and how much would be interesting to know. You'd hope they couldn't get itches or something where they would have no possible way of scratching. =)

Rav

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Jack_Daniels · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2002, 10:10 PM

Put a bike helmet on yer head... Being that the shell is "living".. Id assume that has feeling, to a degree.. If you 'knock' on the helmet, you'll feel it, but if you brush it with your finger, you wouldnt.... Id guess its pretty much the same for the tort, but most likely a little more sensitive than a helmet would be.... like a really thick fingernail maybe??
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Kohm · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2002, 05:49 AM

They do have touch receptors on their shell, and but I don't think they can feel as well as on any other part of their body. So they do knwo if you are touching them.

Good luck with taming them!
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Reticu-Lady · #5 (**permalink**) 05-23-2002, 10:39 AM

Well, either Snoopy is pretty laid back, or s/he likes to have his/her shell petted. She will stick her little head out and close her eyes while I pet her shell. Can you hold a tort too much? I like to carry her around for a bit every day. She won't expect to be carried around when she weighs 100 pounds, will she?
I know my Gt Dane thinks he's a lap dog. I hope I don't ruin another big pet. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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Ravnos · #6 (**permalink**) 05-23-2002, 04:40 PM

I don't think I've ever seen a turtle or a tortoise that actually enjoyed being picked up - so no, I don't think he will be running up to you expecting to be picked up when he's huge. =) I like to pick up and handle my little sulcata alot, need to do it now while I can because eventually its just not going to be an option. =)

Rav
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#7 (**permalink**) 08-12-2002, 06:19 PM

This info is from a copy/paste of info from maturtlerescue

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE>The second issue I would like to address is the post concerning the petting of the tortoise's shell. Shell tissue is live tissue. The carapace is the upper part of the shell and contains 50 bones originating from the ribs, vertebrae, and dermal plates in the skin and is covered by 26 keratin scutes. The lower part of the shell is called the plastron and has 11 bones derived from clavicles, interclavicles, and abdominal ribs and is covered by 11 keratin scutes. It cannot be said that the shell is like a helmet in which when it is tapped it feels like the helmet on our head. The do feel gentle touches because this is live tissue; just the same as if we were to touch their legs. </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

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