Any odd behavior in your pet would worry any turtle owner, and one odd behavior that you may notice is the turtle hiding all the time.
This article is a look into why your turtle is hiding all the time
Table of Contents
Why does my turtle hide all the time?
If your pet does something once, or twice, then you may not worry about it too much, but if this something happens all the time then this may pique your interest and worry you.
Here is why your turtle may be hiding all the time:
New environment:
If you’ve just received your turtle, and it seems to be hiding all the time, then this may be happening because it is in a new environment.
These animals are easily scared, and something as simple as being in a new environment can make the animal uncomfortable or stressed.
Your pet will always be on the lookout for new predators in the area and this is why they may be scared and hide all the time.
You may have made your pet’s environment as comfortable as possible but any new environment will cause your pet to have its guard up.
What to do:
This is very normal for turtles, the animal will get used to its new space in time, you can help it out with this.
Help by making sure that the animal has everything it needs to feel comfortable in the tank. Gice it food, hiding spaces, a basking light, a heat lamp, and a proper diet.
Allow your pet to take its time to get used to its new environment and don’t force the animal to play or interact with you.
If you try to grab or interact with your turtle too soon then this will make the animal even more fearful of you
Leave food out for the animal, and make sure that it sees you doing this, then, hang around in the room that your pet is in to show it that you aren’t a threat to it
Too much light:
If your turtle likes to hide when its UV light is switched on then this may mean that the animal doesn’t like the light.
These animals, in the wild, roam around on the forest floor. The forest floor doesn’t receive direct sunlight, the light is filtered through the trees and isn’t too harsh.
The UV light in the enclosure may simply be too harsh for your pet. Your pet may hide out when the light is on for this reason.
Bubs can be especially harsh in the beginning when you start using them so the animals may avoid the lights right after you replace them
The animals will come out again when it is cooler and when the lights aren’t as harsh.
What to do:
One way to remedy the situation would be to raise the light up a bit, your pet may like it better this way
The animals will sense that the light in the enclosure is less harsh now and will stop hiding out so much.