Care Basics
How to Handle Your Tortoise
Updated August 1, 2026
Good to know: Tortoises are not cuddly pets. They're observe-and-appreciate animals. Some tolerate handling, some don't. Respect your tortoise's personality.
🏠 First handling
Wait 1-2 weeks after bringing your tortoise home before handling:
- Let them settle into their enclosure
- Let them eat successfully at least once
- Sit near the tank so they see you
- Start with short sessions (5-10 min)
✋ How to pick up
Do
- • Approach from the side
- • Slide hands under the shell
- • Support the entire shell
- • Keep close to your body
- • Move slowly and calmly
Don't
- • Grab from above
- • Lift by the shell edges only
- • Hold far from your body
- • Make sudden movements
- • Handle during shedding
📅 How often to handle
New tortoise
2-3x per week, 5-10 min. Let them settle in first.
Tame tortoise
Several times per week is fine. Watch for stress.
Most tortoises
Are happier being watched than held!
😳 Shy tortoises
Some tortoises are naturally more shy or defensive. Build trust:
- Patience: Some take weeks or months to tolerate handling
- Hand-feeding: Offer treats (strawberries, melon) from your hand
- Sit with them: Let them out in a safe room while you read or watch TV
- Respect signals: If they hiss or retreat, put them back
🐢 Species differences
Some species tolerate handling better than others:
- Sulcata: Generally calm, can become large and heavy
- Russian: More active, sometimes more flighty
- Hermann's: Generally good tempered
- Red-foot: Often more tolerant of handling
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