Urgent Care

Have you noticed any fighting in the tank before?

After the vet I started wondering if that was a problem. I've noticed minimal aggressive behavior between the two, and I'm wondering if the tank size is the issue. Unfortunately I'm still waiting on the new tank. Nothing too serious between the two but I know they are pissing each other off. And I do think there's some bullying going on.

Any chance you can feed your turtles separately outside of the tanks? We feed our male and female RES in a different bucket at feeding time every day - they are also housed separately.

Well, fighting escalates quickly... you would definitely notice behavior changes, not just lack of appetite.

I would have to get something to be able to feed them in a place other than their tank. I did try taking the bigger one out (the one who is eating) while trying to feed the other one but she still ignored the food.
As for the minimal aggression I was talking about, all I've seen is them occasionally getting in each others faces and pissing the other off and also fluttering their claws. It's not even every day and both of them do it to each other. There is no biting or anything though.

When she stopped eating, was it only certain items at first or did she stop altogether?

She stopped eating altogether.

I have amazing news to report! I got her to eat a few small pieces of green leaf lettuce. Earlier at dinner time, she appeared interested but then changed her mind while the other ate, so I figured I'd wait a couple hours and try again and she actually ate some! I couldn't even believe it. Now I just have to hope she continues and doesn't go on her strike again tomorrow. So bizarre.

Great to hear! Hopefully things will return to normal soon.

Fingers crossed! I will keep you posted.

Just an update. My turtle (Slip) is still eating, thankfully! I have no idea what was going on, but she seems back to normal again. Just in case, I've been trying to feed them on separate sides of the tank, and holding the other turtle (Slide) back while Slip is eating. Slide is the larger of the two and swallows big pieces of food whole, while Slip needs time to chew the pieces. If I'm not there monitoring them, Slide steals all the food from Slip. I really don't know if this is what caused her to stop eating for 3 weeks, or if Slip just had a bug (even though she was looking and acting fine otherwise). Anyway, back to normal!
Thanks for helping me out!

It's not unusual for one turtle to outcompete the other. Take out Slide when feeding Slip, that should make it a bit easier for you.

Urgent Care :: Turtle sick? Not eating, behaving mostly normal otherwise

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