Urgent Care :: 2 new baby turtle

[k64758]

They haven't eaten since the day I got them which is around 5 days ago. I have been putting a pellet or two every morning and every night I'll see them still there.. = /
I still have them in the small plastic box that they came with so it isn't the new environment problem. (I do have a tank for them, just haven't bought the basking rock, heating lamp and filter yet so I haven't put them in the new tank)
I have yet to see them open there mouth. I kinda tried to force feed them. They would put their whole body and head inside and close their eyes.

Do you think there's birth defect or something that they can't open their mouth. I've had turtles before and my turtle would open his mouth and hiss at me if I pick him up, even the first week I had him. But these two turtle are unresponsive. I've even tried tomato even though I know it's not a good food to feed them and they didn't eat it. I've read about dipping the pellets in tuna water but I haven't had time to buy a can yet. Hopefully tomorrow. I've been pretty busy.

So do you guys have any advice on what I should do in the meanwhile?

Also today I've seen a turtle flip upside down twice! It was scary the first time and it wasn't moving and the head was under the water so I tried shaking the plastic box and finally got it right side up and then it started moving. Then a couple hour later I saw it upside down again and not moving so I flip it right side up again. I put it in another box. Usually turtle try to flip themselves back up but I don't know why it didn't try. They did the first day I got them, always flipping themselves back. But now it's not. I'm scared of waking up to it dead. = / Have you guys have that problem where you see your turtle upside down and not trying to get back up and that you have to do it yourself?
Do you know any reason why it was upside down? I don't know why I separated them but I feel like doing something.

[gwennie]

Firstly, why did you get them if you didn't have the things you need for their tank yet? What kind of container do you have them in? How much water is in it? Do they have any place to get completely dry? Do you have lights for them? What temperature is the container at?

Your new hatchlings are probably still adjusting to their new surroundings. Either they're just out of sorts, or perhaps the temperature you have them at is telling them not to eat. Anything below 75 degrees can make the turtle's body go into a hibernation mode where they won't want to eat.

This page on the main website has some tips that might help you as well.

Having them in a small container that you got them in isn't likely the environment that they're used to. Turtles take a very long time to adapt to change, and by getting them and bringing them home with you, you've taken them out of everything they've known and put them in a totally weird, scary place.

Also - Are you feeding them in a container with water? They need water to be able to swallow their food, because they don't produce saliva like we do.

I doubt that they have a birth defect that doesn't let them open their mouths. If this was the case, they would've died before you purchased them.

Next time you see one of them flipped upside down, gently place it back right side up instead of shaking the box that they're in o.o

Please read all of the basic care sheets here & get the rest of the things for set up ASAP! I hope they start eating soon.

Other folks here might have some other suggestions for you to get them to eat. You might want to try tinned shrimp and see if they try to eat that - most turtles find it irresistible! If they do eat it, it should really only be a treat item. You could try tinned tuna as well. Good luck!

[BSC]

If your conditions are right (if they aren't, sort it out as soon as you can) then the turtle is just getting used to it's new habitat.

Give it a few more days, oh and just so you know I don't think a turtle will eat out of the water.

[tammi]

Try giving them meal worms. New babies don't know pellets are food yet. Even without the basking dock I would think the tank would be much better then the little box they came in.

[marisa]

Rather than mealworms, try pieces of earthworm (more nutritious) or, if it's small, the whole worm. Things that move are especially attractive to hatchlings.

Do some reading on what they need to stay healthy.

[k64758]

I tried the putting the pellets in the tuna in water. There was only albaquor(sp) but isn't it the same?
But they didn't eat it. I then put them in the new tank and tried again and no success. = (
I'm getting worried. How long can they last without eating before dying? = X

I've had turtles before and I read everything on taking care of them. I know they can't eat out of water. I forgot how long it takes for my old turtle to start eating but I'm sure it wasn't this long or that I was this worried.

Hmm.. I dunno where to buy mealworm or earthworm = /

[tammi]

You can buy the worms at most pet stores. You may have to ask for them.

[X-Factor]

Newborn turtles usually don't eat pellets right away. I fed my turtles dried gammarus mixture for the first 3 weeks.

It took about 3 weeks before my turtles started eating pellets and the only kind they do eat are reptomin sticks.

Also try putting romaine lettuce in there. My baby turtles like eating it but they'll take small nibbles at it instead of eating it all at once like with other food.

[trebzet]

just try to feed them live foods like fish or something that is moving if its a hatchling just gather stones in your backyard and make yourself a basking are my question is is the turtle moving or they just stay in place everytime.