Tama-chan, whose full name is Onsen Tamago ("Hot spring Egg"), is a small flying hot springs turtle (Onsen Kame) and the housepet of the Hinata House. Tama-chan first entered the picture when Mutsumi gave her to Keitaro and Naru as a parting gift following their first misadventure together, and since then has become something of a "family dog" to the inhabitants of the Hinata House. Tama-chan communicates through a cat-like mewing sound, and appears to be able to communicate with Su, Mutsumi, Seta, and (later in the series) Keitaro, who all respond verbally. Despite being an object of loathing by Motoko, who is deathly afraid of turtles, and hunger by Su, who makes repeated attempts to cook her (though her seriousness in pursuing this endeavor is questionable, and may just be done to provoke Shinobu), Tama-chan can usually be seen happily hovering around the heads of the residents of the House, mewing like a kitten all the while.