Fear of turtles (chelonaphobia)

Chelonaphobia is a fear of turtles, and often tortoises and terrapins too. It might mean avoiding aquariums and pet shops, or feeling uneasy at their slow head movements and leathery skin. Some people fear being bitten, while others simply find the look of them unsettling.

About this phobia

The word comes from the Greek chelone, meaning tortoise, which also gives the scientific group name Chelonia. It is rare and has little clinical evidence behind it, appearing mostly on lists of unusual phobias. It belongs to the wider family of animal fears, alongside herpetophobia, the fear of reptiles.

What it feels like

• A shudder at the way a turtle’s head pulls in and out of its shell
• Keeping well away from tanks at aquariums or pet shops
• Worry about being bitten or touched by one

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Do turtles and tortoises bite?

Some can, and snapping turtles in particular have strong jaws, but most pet tortoises and turtles are gentle when handled properly. Knowing the facts can take a little of the edge off the fear, though it rarely removes it on its own.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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