General Care Discussion :: Automatic feeders

[butterflygirl921]

I'm going away in April for a weekend and my cousin refuses to feed my RES. Is there any type of automatic feeders someone could recommend and maybe also a timer for the lights. I don't want to take her with me because its a long drive (about 7 hours) and then the people we are staying with have other animals and she doesn't like others.

[Jeremiah]

How old are your turtles? If they're large juveniles or adults, and if you're only gone for a traditional two-day weekend, they should be fine without food.

[butterflygirl921]

Im guessing shes about 2-3 years old shes almost 5 inches and shes used to getting fed every day about 2-4 pellets I'll me away for 4-5 days i would just skip a day if it was normally 2 day trip

[Jeremiah]

Check out this feeder. I don't have experience with it, but Eheim is a reputable brand and the reviews seem fine.
http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Turtle-F ... B003I5VS8C

[butterflygirl921]

Thank you I know its not good to feed them every day and Im weaning her to a diet of more pellets on one day and hopefully soon the off day she just gets veggies. I just wish my cousin would feed her

[Jeremiah]

I know how you feel--some turtles hate vegetables, and others eat them from Day 1. Just be persistent! One of my RES wouldn't even look at vegetables for 2 years, but randomly decided to eat it one day. I never would have found out if I hadn't kept trying. Unfortunately, that is a bad omen for the water hyacinth in my pond...

Is your cousin afraid of the turtle, or something? I don't see any reason why it would be so hard to just toss in less than 5 pellets a day. You don't even have to look at the turtle...

[butterflygirl921]

He doesn't like her I told him thats fine shes not bothering you in her tank just feed her and turn the lights on. He told me she will be dead by the time I get back so I figured time to find a plan B. He's moving out soon and I can't wait

[Jeremiah]

That's a little weird...I'm sorry to hear that. You should definitely look into the feeder, then!

[butterflygirl921]

Thank you

[Jeremiah]

No problem. Good luck!

[Kansasslider]

Don't you have any friends that you can trust to feed? Feeders are not a good choice but then again turtles don't need that much food to live.I would ask a friend.

[butterflygirl921]

Yea I'm going to ask the kid across the street or the kids next door. If they don't want to then I'll start asking friends

[steve]

How far is your trip? Are you going in a car?

[butterflygirl921]

Yea Im going in a car and its up to fort drum ny i live in suffolk county on the island so its a really long drive and their cat likes to try to swat at her. I'm waiting to hear back from my neighbor to see if he can watch her.

[steve]

I was going to suggest taking her with you since it would be easy to keep her away from other pets. Anyway, you have plenty of time to get someone to check in on Raphael.