If My Turtle Ran Away How Do I Bait Him Back?

It is good for your turtle to let him get out of his cage and explore your house or yard occasionally, but turtles do have a tendency to look for hiding places. While it's easy enough to find a turtle inside the hollowed-out log in his cage, the hunt gets considerably harder when all of your furniture or the neighborhood shrubbery become possible hiding spots. When you have exhausted the search-and-rescue option, bait your turtle to come to you.

Things You'll Need

  • Flashlight
  • Banana
  • Strawberries
  • Crickets
  • Water dish
  • Water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate all possible hiding places. Rule out places your turtle could not have gotten to, such as a connecting room with a closed door or raised floor (but do not discount stairs leading down).

    • 2

      Check all possible hiding places to the best of your ability, using a flashlight if necessary.

    • 3

      Remove the turtle from his hiding spot, if you find him and can reach him.

    • 4

      Place food near all possible hiding places, if you still have not located him, or at one specific hiding place, if you found the turtle but cannot reach him. Place the food at a short distance from the turtle's exit route from the hiding place, within the turtle's line of vision if possible. Use cut-up bananas, strawberries or dead crickets as the food bait.

    • 5

      Place the turtle's water bowl near the food.

    • 6

      Put other items from the turtle's cage near the food and water, to draw him toward things that are familiar and comforting.

    • 7

      Leave the area for at least an hour. Sit very quietly and with minimal movements, if you want to stay in the area.

    • 8

      Return to the area quietly and slowly.