03/12/2025
I can confirm tortoises 🐢 definitely recognise you 🥰
Cusco seeks out and follows me at every opportunity when he’s playing out of his tank. If he’s ignored he attempts to climb my legs to get attention, utterly adorable ☺️
How Tortoises Recognize You
▪️Smell : Their Primary Sense
Tortoises rely heavily on their sense of smell. They can distinguish familiar scents, including their owner’s skin, clothing, or even the food you regularly offer. This helps them associate you with safety and nourishment.
▪️Sound : Low Frequency Awareness
While tortoises don’t have external ears, they detect vibrations and low frequency sounds. They may respond to your voice, footsteps, or feeding sounds, especially if these are consistent over time.
▪️Memory Capabilities
Tortoises have surprisingly good memory for :
- Spatial navigation : remembering where food, shelter, or water is located.
- Individual recognition : associating specific people with positive or negative experiences.
- Routine cues : linking sounds, smells, or visual patterns with feeding or care.
Some studies show tortoises can retain learned behaviors and associations for months or even years, which is impressive for reptiles.
Why They Respond to Their Owners
Tortoises may show recognition and trust through :
- Approaching you when you enter the room.
- Staying calm when handled by familiar hands.
- Following your movements or watching you.
- Eating more readily in your presence.
These behaviors aren’t just instinct, they reflect learned comfort and familiarity. Over time, your tortoise may even show preference for you over stranger.
