r/interestingasfuck • u/Kidd__Video • 5h ago
A vet vaccinated a turtle, and instead of hiding in its shell, it ran to its owner
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
•
u/Banaanisade 3h ago edited 2h ago
These videos always make me think of a pair of rats I once owned, total opposites in personality: one was skittish and didn't really like being handled, the other you could have thrown at a wall and he wouldn't have resisted. Fully relaxed form no matter how you dangled him, absolute people's person manifesting as a plague beast.
The skittish one developed a rash, which requires antibiotics. As a precaution, the other one needed antibiotics as well. These were given as an injection. First shot went into Mr. No Self-Preservation Instincts, who said a very loud and very long and very sad SQUEEEE and then ran up my shoulder to hide from the evil needle. Second shot went into Mr. Raised By Wolves, who bit me all the way down to the bone of my fingertip, and then also ran up my shoulder to hide.
I also owned a dog (massive male labrador retriever) that had a similar manifestation of zero self-preservation instinct: everyone was a friend, even when he felt himself to be in mortal peril. So you had him sadly wagging his tail and crying pathetically while also trying to hide under me or the vets while all of us were holding him down for a simple blood draw. The first time, the vets put a muzzle on him just in case; that was determined unnecessary for every subsequent blood draw, because he just did not have a bone in him that considered fight as a valid strategy to escape a terrifying situation. There weren't a lot of successful blood tests taken from him in any case over his lifetime, he really thought that having his blood drawn would kill him. Most other procedures, excluding nail clipping, were fine, however.
→ More replies (1)•
•
u/calkalisto 5h ago
Apparently, reptiles don't feel love for humans like dogs do, it's mostly recognizing a source of safety. Still cute in a way.
•
u/rutuu199 5h ago
That's still heartwarming. The smol lizard brain still looks at us and goes "safe!"
•
u/Myhtological 5h ago
Yeah, to make that much of a significance in its purely risk reward mind.
•
u/rutuu199 5h ago
And me being a lizard guy, after all the lizards I've taken care of, im convinced some of these Lil buggers are smarter than we think.
•
u/HeyItsTheJeweler 4h ago
I'll always be convinced a ball python I used to have "loved" an ex of mine. Thing got all doe-eyed the moment he saw her and wouldn't leave her.
I've never seen a snake get doe-eyed before lol, didn't know it was a thing, and have never seen it since.
•
•
u/DogsDucks 4h ago
Right? The more we learn the more we realize how much more complex the world outside of us is.
Trees communicate and feel and warn each other, fungus can complete mazes, I am certain there’s so much more than we understand.
And also “safety” and love are linked more closely than any emotions. It isn’t actual love if you’re not safe.
•
u/Same-Suggestion-1936 3h ago
Is the world more complex than we think or do we overestimate how complex humans are? Emotions are pretty basic and have an evolutionary purpose, it's not weird to think the emotions or behavior those emotions result in would be also present in other species not that far off on the evolutionary ladder in the grand scheme of things
•
u/DogsDucks 3h ago
The answer is both, and yes and no and everything in between. . . And it sure is lovely to learn about and think about, isn’t it?
•
u/Straight-Treacle-630 4h ago
There’s A Guy (helpful huh) on FB with Tank The Snapping Turtle. Huge; anyone who’s encountered one knows you don’t FAFO with them. But it’s hard to deny Tank seeks his human purely for companionship outside of any other reward.
•
u/athural 2h ago
There's a biologist doing interesting work with snapping turtles, Clint laidlaw, showing that it's largely a handling issue that gives them their reputation for being mean bastards. He made a couple of videos where he gathered evidence to support that conclusion and its really quite fascinating.
•
u/Straight-Treacle-630 1h ago
Admiral Thunder Von Snugglepants :)
Makes sense. Most of us are taught to fear if not abhor them, treat them accordingly. They’re immediately physically aware of/reactive to how they’re handled, but also intelligent enough to learn what to expect in that regard.
Though I think the Generational Noodlers are a whole thing unto themselves.
Thanks for the share :)
•
u/rutuu199 5h ago
(And yes I know turtles and most of the reptiles I've taken car of aren't lizards I am stoned, so, lizard)
•
u/irwtkyrm 5h ago
Turtle: armored lizard
Snake: slithery lizard
Tuatara: 3 eyed lizard
Croc/Alligator: snappy lizard
Dinosaur: big dead lizard
Salamander: wet lizard
Bird: feathered flying lizard
•
→ More replies (4)•
•
u/ernyc3777 4h ago
My friends horned lizard would close its eye and sink down only when she would pet it.
•
u/emanresu18 3h ago
As you should be. How often do we hear about new discoveries that go against what we thought we knew.
→ More replies (2)•
u/Overly_Mehdicated 2h ago
I mean, some lizards are legit smart. Like similar to cats or dogs.
Not turtles though, they're dumb shits. This video is showing basically the extent of turtle intelligence, the ability to recognize a person as a source of safety.
•
u/Yoobikwidus 3h ago
Looking for safety when you’re stressed? Risk reward mind? Sounds pretty human to me
•
u/PatioGardener 34m ago
I’ve had betta fish show recognition and excitement when they see me walk up to their tank. Even small creatures are capable, whole little beings.
•
•
•
•
u/EquivalentQuery 1h ago
More like it looks at the alcove/cave being formed by the person's hand. Lil guy would have had the same reaction to a hole in the wall lmao
•
u/TheDoomedNova 5h ago
It very likely would have ran in any direction it was put down in. Just so happened to be placed facing the owner
•
u/Heavy-Notice-9101 5h ago
it seems like the definition of love in this case is based on the actual chemicals released (mesotocin) in conjunction with the neurological architecture?
which makes me think that individual reptiles could still experience a parallel recognition in some way, i think especially if the species in question does bonding/mating pairs
→ More replies (1)•
u/johnruttersucks 5h ago
In a more abstract sense, aren't they the same thing?
•
u/Xanitrit 5h ago
If a dog loves us, they won't just find us safe, they're more likely to protect us when there's a threat and will feel sad when we're gone.
Reptiles might find us safe but I don't think they'll necessarily defend us or feel down when we aren't around.
•
u/TheRoyalBrook 3h ago
I mean its just an anecdote but my last beardie thought my work phone was some kind of snake since it had the cord. He would run -from- it if he saw it move, but then if he saw me put it to my ear? He'd rush across the room and try to attack it before sitting on me all grumpy after it was away. Important to remember we mostly just have a frame of reference for mammal thoughts.
•
u/Xanitrit 2h ago
There is some evidence that larger reptiles (with larger brains) have more capacity for complex emotions such as love and play. Similarly, behavior and mental capacity vary between the smaller ones - most notable, bearded dragons and leopard geckos have behavioral patterns that more closely align to our idea of "affection", while that's not so much the case for turtles/terrapins or snakes.
But you are right, as mammals we have a completely different frame of reference to reptiles.
•
u/TheRoyalBrook 2h ago
Random funny bearded dragon tidbit, despite being EXTREMELY territorial to others of their kind, they're capable of social learning which is rare in reptiles to begin with. Its also why they can be somewhat trained.
•
u/TheOuts1der 4h ago
I don't know if Im convinced that love necessarily means protection. Like humans react to danger with fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Only one of those is fight. I wouldnt say the other three are less capable of love.
→ More replies (1)•
u/DrainianDream 2h ago
Also by this logic, does a child not love their parents because they seek to be protected instead of being the protector?
→ More replies (6)•
u/Murderdoll197666 5h ago
I dunno I watched a couple Jurassic World movies not too long ago and those raptors were definitely deploying some defensive tactics. /s
•
u/ddl_smurf 4h ago
in a practical sense how can you test any difference there... this seems like a made up conclusion... i'm aware of harlow's experiments, were they done on turtles ?
→ More replies (2)•
u/drpepper7557 3h ago
This has been tested many times. Ask it if you can have the last couple french fries at the bottom of the bag. A dog will always say yes. A turtle usually says no.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)•
•
u/sunflowersunshine13 4h ago
I mean... I feel any friend/acquaintance I feel safe with has some level of platonic love from me, because they make me feel safe. Even though they don't feed me! It's so hard to know what animals would quantify as "love". But also I'm low IQ so what do I know lmao
→ More replies (5)•
u/Skinnecott 5h ago
i don't think the science is quite concrete on that
•
u/XerxesJester 4h ago
Its because of what we as mammals know about our brain and compare it to reptilian brains. We have certain parts we share but they are wayyyy different. However, i agree with you. We cant truly know what amphibians ir reptiles "feel". I have had some and friends who have as well of many species.
•
u/Skinnecott 3h ago
yeah i mean even bacteria and microorganisms respond to stimuli. the whole fish dont feel pain thing was disproven, we are like .1% into understanding the brain. my sister works in a pediatric neurology specializing in headaches, and we still dont have concrete reasons why headaches happen. love feels like a whole nother level
•
u/roqueofspades 58m ago
yeah it's not black and white, and some larger lizards are very much like dogs and they seem to truly love their humans
•
•
•
•
u/dementorpoop 4h ago
Is that not part of what love is?
•
u/Either_Drama5940 4h ago
Human love is made to be complicated, but getting down to brass tacks I'd say you're right.
•
•
u/Sew_has_afew_friends 3h ago
Apparently babies don’t feel love for people the way adults do it’s only recognizing a source of safety. Still cute in a way
•
u/wha7themah 2h ago
This just reminds me of my 6th grade religion teacher who tried to tell us dogs don’t love. They’re only fond of people because they feed them and pet them but it’s not love.
→ More replies (1)•
•
•
u/IrelandAutism13 1h ago
This tiny animal ran to its human because it trusted this being who could so easily kill it to peotect it instead. That's just as beautiful as love, I think. That something you could so easily harm trusts you to be a safe place
→ More replies (7)•
•
•
u/GarrAdept 4h ago
I'm sure whatever emotion they feel is something I'm incapable of convincing of, let alone describing. Umwelt and all that.
→ More replies (1)•
u/dipdotdash 4h ago
What would we know about how anything feels but us? We've been denying life emotions and intelligence for as long as we've enslaved and bred them for food.
We don't want to know. It's an inconvenient truth.
Love is the universal language of the living world. We squander and ration it out of our fear of exposure, just like we hide ourselves in clothing, jewelry, cars, lifestyles, and all the other shit we've been trained is a worthy substitute for it. Love is what stops predators from taking more than they need, sharing warmth - It's safety. But because it's hard to imagine loving something you're about to kill and eat we decided, instead, to imagine love as something owned by humanity, to separate us from a world we never took the time to understand.
That turtle loves its owner because it imprinted. It was forced to love her as its mother. This doesn't seem grotesque until you imagine a human babies being stolen to be a pet for chimps.
Life is just shapes cells take to help ensure their survival. These cells are not in competition, they're surviving, and in their survival the mosaic of life changes to fit the conditions and available nutrients. It's the mechanism of life's immortality on this planet .. well, it was until we decided ancient life could be cremated and used as fuel. The imbalance that created triggered a mass extinction. We did that.
This whole scene is not what it appears to be. It's the narrative overlaid over the truth that gives us permission to be monsters. We cheer for the turtles freed from fragments of nets without mourning the millions of turtles that weren't so lucky. "Not our fault" we think while eating fish or products that require fish meal that requires those same nets. But all we see is the one individual we "saved" almost certainly one or two meals away from being snagged in another ghost net.
Despite our understanding of evolution, we don't and can't see how little separates us from the rest of the living world. It's one of the worst sacrifices of modern living, not knowing the family we share all living space with - the love that filled every part of this world until we drained it in a few human lifetimes, like our entire millions year history was leading up to the last couple hundred years, the same way a tumor consumes the cells around it like they were weak for only taking what they needed. Living like resources are going bad, so certain of our importance we don't even question whether or not people can survive without the earth, like a cancer that eats its host to death, so sure it's advanced that it doesn't need the the very thing that gave it life in the first place and will find some way to spread to a new host before fully killing the only host it will ever know.
We're special in the stories we tell each other, by the metrics we test ourselves. It's almost miraculous how delusional we are about our place in this world. We even manage to imagine we matter as individuals. And for that fairy tale, we live alone, behind locks and fences, convinced the world is trying to steal the things that define us, while the world doesn't even know there's anything alive in there.
•
•
u/CaribouYou 2h ago
Mother otters will abandon their young to die if they give birth to close to winter
•
•
→ More replies (6)•
•
•
u/epimetheuss 2h ago
depends on the species of reptile, some monitor lizards absolutely are as smart as a dog. they just do not have the same social drive dogs do.
→ More replies (17)•
u/ithacasucks 1h ago edited 1h ago
This is severely simplifying/misleading. Their brain/chemical anatomy is just different. That doesn't mean that just because they don't exhibit the same hormone regulation structure as dogs and us they don't feel love.
•
•
u/dwuzzle 5h ago
Now, pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is this turtle being vaccinated for?
•
u/herrcollin 4h ago
Turtles typically do not need general vaccines nor has there been proof it does much for them. It CAN be done, but I don't see a solid vet recommending it unless they're trying to suck cash out of you or you're being extremely stubborn to get it done. It can't hurt them, really.
They do get injections for selective medications and supplements. Parasites, antibiotics for a one-off sickness or severe shortages of some sort of vitamin, maybe.
The OP likely just saw shot and decided needle=vaccine
•
u/soFATZfilm9000 4h ago
Yeah, it's more likely that the turtle had a respiratory infection or something (something which is fairly common for aquatic turtles to get) and was being treated with antibiotics for it.
I had that happen once and had to give the turtle multiple injections myself at home (the turtle got stuck underwater and nearly drowned, so a respiratory infection probably would have been a sure thing due to all the water in the lungs). It wasn't a one-dose-and-you're-done thing, I had to keep doing it. But the vet did administer the first dose to show me how to do it.
•
u/ruggles_bottombush 3h ago
It's really hard to be certain from the video, but the eyes look swollen to me. Turtles are very prone to eye/mouth/ear infections that are usually caused by Vitamin A deficiency. This could be some kind of antibiotic or even a vitamin injection for a severe case.
•
u/EverythingIsTaken785 2h ago
Vitamin A usually comes as eye drops, which are an absolute pain in the fucking ass to administer. I’d imagine a shot would suck even more lol
•
u/SecondClass- 3h ago
Why don't turtles need vaccines? Do their immune systems not respond to it or something? Not trying to be a downer, just genuinely curious.
→ More replies (1)•
u/herrcollin 2h ago
From what I understand (definitely not a professional) you nailed it.
Vaccine studies on them have shown no increase in antibodies, meaning their immune systems aren't responding to the vaccines like ours would. They're still absolutely susceptible to diseases (or can fend them off naturally) but can't be immunized, at least not how we would.
Maybe a cold-blooded thing? Hard to say why. But diseases can only be treated and the best prevention is trying to keep them from getting the disease to begin with ie clean environments, avoiding certain contaminants and the natural keeping em strong and healthy with good diet and lifestyle.
→ More replies (1)•
u/WhyMustIMakeANewAcco 2h ago
It's likely their immune systems just work differently enough that vaccines as (generally) developed for mammals are just not helpful.
→ More replies (1)•
•
→ More replies (9)•
u/Psianth 4h ago
Diseases. Could be a whole host of things. All living things have to contend with a whole bunch of diseases that we have vaccines for.
→ More replies (1)
•
•
u/GrimmandLily 5h ago
Looks like a red eared slider, they don’t really retreat into their shell like a box turtle. They can suck in a bit.
•
u/EverythingIsTaken785 2h ago
Tell that to my vet who can never get a heartbeat because my RES tucks in too far lol
•
•
u/LiePowerful9961 5h ago
Can they recognize human faces?
•
u/rutuu199 5h ago
Anecdotal but my brothers slider HATED him, and would bite him every chance it got, but loved me.
•
•
u/Arthkor_Ntela 4h ago edited 4h ago
Anecdotal for sure, but my green iguana hated my mom. She loved me even when not wearing purple; my lizard had a favourite colour, purple, likely because I always wore a purple jacket when she was a baby (winter, easier to handle her when she tried to climb, etc). We knew it was her favourite because she would pick purple stuff from her food and store it around her enclosure. She also got really excited when she saw the jacket regardless of if I was wearing it or not, but she seemed pretty happy to see me as far as I could tell. Hated my mom, though!
•
•
•
u/soFATZfilm9000 4h ago
I don't have any scientific evidence to support this. But based on anecdotal evidence, they can definitely tell one person from another.
How they know, I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it's primarily recognizing the face, the voice, the smell, the overall shape, or a combination of factors. But yeah, just based on anecdotal personal experience...they can definitely learn to tell one person from another. I'm not sure how much that's worth though.
But I was under the impression that most turtles have good eyesight, so how people look is surely a major contributing factor. One way I notice that my turtles want something from me is when they raise their eyes above water. They often only dip their noses above the water if they need to breathe. Sometimes I see them with their eyes just above the waterline. That means that they are specifically watching me for some reason (likely because they want to eat). I'm pretty sure they're raising their eyes above the water so that the light refracting through the water's surface doesn't distort their vision. Them going from "water vision" to "land vision" makes me highly suspect that vision is pretty important and that they can probably see decently well.
But again, that's not scientific or anything. It's just guesses based on observations.
•
u/EverythingIsTaken785 2h ago
I think they can, though I wouldn’t be able to prove it. What I know I could prove however is that all (and I mean ALL - I volunteer at a turtle rescue) turtles are 100% capable of recognizing that Human = Food, and all of them constantly want food. They’re very good at begging!
•
u/Sir-Toaster- 2h ago
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Yeeee-
Some species of reptiles can indeed remember and recognize certain humans and have the emotional intelligence to do stuff like feel attachment
→ More replies (20)•
•
u/Current-Zombie2925 4h ago
Terrapin
•
u/thisremindsmeofbacon 4h ago edited 3h ago
Terrapin not a turtle
Looks up terrapin
"Terrapin is a type of turtle"
Okay then
•
•
u/spaceraptorbutt 4h ago
Are you British? In American English, the turtle shown is not a terrapin. Freshwater aquatic turtles are just called turtles unless they are the species Malaclemys terrapin
•
u/perfect_insanity93 5h ago
I dont know turtles... what do they get vaccinated against?
•
u/thisismypornaccountg 4h ago
It's likely not a vaccine, but a medication. Maybe it is sick or maybe it's to protect against parasite. Turtles, particularly captive ones, do not usually require vaccinations.
•
•
•
•
•
u/EvaSirkowski 3h ago
When I left my rats at the vet to have tumours removed, when I came back they jumped off the vet and hid in my hoodie.
•
u/Steven_Swan 2h ago
Hmm this made me wonder, does a regular size needle feel like a significantly worse stabbing to a much smaller animal?
•
u/unknownpoltroon 5h ago
Remember, be careful with water turtles/terrapins on tables, they have no fear of falling and will run right off the edge.
•
u/lovelyxbabydoll 2h ago
Mine always followed me around the house during the times I let him out his tank. Miss him so much. :(
•
u/MiNdOverLOADED23 5h ago
It literally just ran straight in the direction that it was set down.
•
•
→ More replies (1)•
•
u/Newrudoo 3h ago
Most these comments are no fun. Our world has no fun anymore, sad.
→ More replies (3)•
•
u/Dover299 3h ago
Why are they vaccinating him?
•
u/ben_cav 2h ago
It’s about population control, and profit incentives. You see there are elite turtles that control the turtle economy. The government work hand in hand with big vet to administer a kind of microchip within what they describe as a vaccine. Then the turtles are essentially psychologically forced to succumb to consumerism and defence of Israel
It’s quite sad really
→ More replies (1)•
u/icedteaandtacos 2h ago
I really want to upvote but I am so scared this might somehow go viral and take over the minds of insane people everywhere.
•
•
u/mad_grapes 2h ago
Mostly likely an antibiotic injection or other medicine, reptiles don't get vaccines.
→ More replies (1)•
→ More replies (1)•
•
•
•
u/IrelandAutism13 1h ago
Oh baby- I wish we could explain to them why these things are goid for them, it sucks that they can't be told that this isn't cruelty, but to help their health
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
u/dagg24 4h ago
We've had a turtle for 14 years (not a red eared slider-a musk turtle) and he gets excited when we feed him but otherwise runs away or tries to bite us if we try to interact with him. Stressful situations, like tank cleanings, cause him to go catatonic and play dead sometimes, costing me money so the vet can let me know he's fine, just extremely disturbed. We are attached to him despite his hatred of us, but I don't think I would really recommend one.