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what about holding and playing with my res.. is it ok to get it out and play with it.

There not realy the playing wiht sort of animal, sorta like fish you wouldnt pick it up to play with . However you can hold it, but it will most likely scaratch and try to bite you. But I "think" holding them can be stressful for the turt. Iv heard of some people letting them run around the house, make sure that it cant get stuck somewhere or escape also remove any other pets in the room(cats, dogs). I think it depends on how big the turt is. You wouldnt want something the size of a quarter running around the house.

If your turtle doesn't pull into it's shell, or scrabble frantically to get away, or try very hard to bite you, why not? I'd wash your hands before and after for the safety of you and the turtle, but I have seen posts on this site that some folks have turtles that seem to enjoy being held. If your turtle, by some miracle, seems calm and rather interested in something besides biting you and getting away, I don't think holding him sometimes should be a problem. I would not count on this reaction however. I thnk the first three are way more likely. If any of these behaviors occur, your turtle isn't enjoying himself at all. Don't take offense though, they really can't ever be sure we aren't going to eat them.

My Zeke likes being held. He will even let me pet his legs and head....but only if he's in the mood. If he's strugglig, back into the water he goes...I wash my hands before and after. But Turtles aren't really a 'snuggly' pet, and are more pets to watch and be amazed by.

I caution people when holding turtles they can be amazingly strong with there legs and can aciidentally be dropped

This is why it is especially important that children not handle turtles.

I carry my RES very often.
As long as u carry yr pet turtle with both hands, it shouldn't be a problem.
If yr pet turtle start to move frantically on yr hands, it show that it wants to be on its own, so u can put it on the floor n let it explore around.
U should be around when yr turtle is exploring, juz in case yr turtle goes missing, as turtles r gd in hidding themselves.

I personally don't think that allowing your turtle to run around the house is a very good idea, because todays house is filled with chemcals, that are used to clean the carpets. Also, when you see them sprinting around you're house, they may not be exploring they may be frantically searching for some sort of cover. Turtles can get themselves stuck or fall down stairs. They're amazingly fast for a short distance when startled.

yesterday i had my turtle outside, he crawled near the car that was parked outside, I went to pick him up and he flew across the asphalt and was stopped by a rubber tire (face first) example of how fast they are when they feel they're in danger