Urgent Care :: Turtle's not eating anything!

[Anonymoose]

How big is your turtle? About "4
How long have you had it? 7 years

What is the water temperature? Don't know, no thermometer
Are you using a water heater? No, yet to get one
How much water is in there? 60% of 33 gallons (approx 20 gallons)
Are you using a water conditioner? No
Are you using any filtration? Yes

What is the basking temperature? Don't know
Is there a basking light? Yes
Is there a basking platform that is easy to climb on? Should be, but he gets up on it slowly
What kind is it or what is it made out of? Flourescent, UVA/UVB
Is there a UVB light? Yes

What have you been trying to feed it? Crickets
When was the last time your turtle ate? A week ago

How big is the tank/pond/enclosure? 33 Gallons
Is the tank near a window? No
Is the tank in a room with a lot of activity? No

Have you read the Basic Care section? Yes
Have you searched the forums for similar situations? Yes

Is there any other unusual activity/symptoms?

He hasn't been eating for almost a week now, he recently got his new tank yesterday, and I've been trying to feed him crickets. All he does all day is bask (maybe he doesn't even want to bask, only stay away from the turtle dock, since when I turn the UV lights off, he stays on the turtle dock). Anyone know what food I can use to get him to eat?

[Ferd]

you could try to dip the food in somthing smelly like put them in cat food. i personally bathed mine in the leftover tuna juices from the canned tuna. they wouldnt stop eating it and now they eat it straight up with none of the juices!

[missibsu]

If you recently changed his tank, he could still be adjusting. Another factor could be the water temp. You really need to get a themometer and check the temps. Water that is too cool decrease the appetite. It can also lead to respritory infections and other illnesses.

[flutterby]

In addition to what Missi said about the temps, he is adjusting to his new tank on top of the not eating. It is VERY important that you get thermometers for your basking area and your water. You need to know your temps especially because the heat when basking aids in digestion.

[Anonymoose]

He's still not eating anything, but he is still pretty active in the water.

Anyway, got a thermometer today, and the water temperature is 72 degrees farenheit. Anyway, how do you tell the temperature of the basking area?

[SpotsMama]

You check the temperature of the basking area periodically. Put something on the basking area that will be somewhat similar in size to your turtle - like some stones - and set the thermometer on top of it. Leave it up there long enough for the thermometer to adjust to the correct temperature - 15 minutes or so.

[Anonymoose]

The temp of his basking area is about 96 degrees farhenheit, and he STILL isn't eating anything. How do you people entice your turtles to eat? And how do you feed them?

[marisa]

Try a food with a strong smell or something that's live and moves (a cut-up earthworm usually works). Personally, I'd increase the water temp a bit (about 76F) and see if that doesn't help his appetite. (I'd also lower the basking area temp a few degrees to around 90F.)

Don't know where you are, but if it's getting noticeably cooler where you are, the change of seasons could also be affecting his appetite in addition to his being in new surroundings.

[Anonymoose]

I live in Toronto, and 'round here, the temps are around 60-65ish right now. She's been in his turtle for a week now.

I tried feeding her lettuce doused in tuna can water, and she still isn't eating. I don't know how to up the temps, considering that I don't have a water heater, and my mom worries that I'll get electrified if I get one. Her main heat source is her basking heat lamp, which so far has done the job retaining the water temps of 72 degrees.

I'll try to find some earthworms tomorrow, see if that'll work as you suggested. Do you have to wash em before you feed it to the turtle?

[flutterby]

See if you can find them at a bait shop instead of digging them up because of pesticides etc. I would also wash them because I wouldn't want all that dirt/soil in my tank or in my turtles belly.

[SpotsMama]

My turtle is sometimes fussy but he's never refused shrimp.

[marisa]

If you get a reputable heater that's fully submersible, you shouldn't have to worry about electrocution. And if you plug the heater into a Ground Fault Interruptor (GFI), any abnormalities would result in the current being cut off immediately.

Many people like Stealth heaters. Ebo Jager and Tronics are also reputable (the latter two have indicator lights that tell you when the heater is working).

[Anonymoose]

She finally ate something today! I installed a heater on Sunday, and she's finally eating! It's 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and when I just gave her 4 pellets, she gobbled them up like crazy!