Feeding and Nutrition :: Is It Hibernation or Is my turtle just picky?

[yiziee]

he's not eating first i gave him chicken when i first got him then i searched the net and it gave me pellets and he liked pellets alot he also liked salmon and after eating every day pellets he stoped and then we tried everything and got hooked up on salmon and now he's fed of salmon aswell he still doesn't want pellets i tried a small piece of cabage but still nothing and now i am thinking that it might be that he wants to hibernate he is about 2 yrs i think and he is still healthy cause he's always walking and i also tried putting some hot water to the right tempreture just incase the water was to cold for him and i can't afford to make a uvb lamp but he walks everyday. Is it hibernation if yes what should i do? pls help

[bradmeisel]

I do not think the turtle is hibernating nor should. Try to keep the water temp around 78 if you can. Cold water can make a turtle slow and not soo hungry.
What is your setup like?
Can you take a pic?

Try not to feed the Ver too much protein (like salmon). How big is he?

[yiziee]

em about 3 inches no sry can't take a pic :/ but he's always up and about and today i put him in a box with a cloth cause it was to cold outside so he could run and he was really fast and didn't stay one min in peice !! so i don't think that he is sick or something and i saw the sticky about cuttlebone i might try that next never tried it yet

[yiziee]

this not a very well equiped setup as in a tank with filter or stuff but i try my best he walks every single day and i try to keep him warm and little in water

[megcornell]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you try to keep him warm and little.

Turtles need constant temperatures because they cannot control their own body temperatures. If its too cold or warm they will freeze or overheat accordingly. So, you'll need to get a heater and a thermometer so you can make sure things don't get dangerously hot or cold in the tank.

If your turtle hasn't hibernated before, it isn't safe to start him now. It's nearly impossible to mimic natural hibernation settings and there is a very high risk of a turtle dying if things aren't right.

[marisa]

How long have you had your turtle?

Your turtle is not hibernating (at least not now), why do you think he is? Is it cool where you are? If it's cool, he needs a submersible water heater to keep the water warm at a constant temp. What temp were you trying to make the water when you added hot water to his tank(?)? What is the temp of his water and basking area now?

If your turtle is still active, what do his eyes look like? Are they open and alert?

Turtles are not warm blooded, so putting a cloth in with him isn't going to help him keep warm. If you're putting him outside in a box with a cloth and it's cold out, he's still going to be cold. Don't take him outside when it's cold.

He needs a better set-up...

Your turtle's diet is really unbalanced and needs variety in it. Read the section that tells what's good for him to eat. If you only give him one food, he's bound to get sick of it, or like it so much that he won't eat anything else.

You said he "walks every day." If he's a RES, he's aquatic and really should be in water that's at a healthy temp for him (around 26C if he's small).

[Arisu]

I think Ver is holding out his stomach since he knows that you'll give him yummy salmon ;P Turtles are smart and like humans they often time prefer foods that tastes best but aren't good for them.

I agree with marisa- Ver probably needs some variety in his life. Try giving him less protein even if he rejects veggies and pellets. It sounds like its time to show some tough love ;P. He'll eventually get hungry enough to eat his pellets.

After he starts eating regularly again, give protein sparingly! I give my turtles protein/treats once a month (Im paranoid because I used to give a lot of proteins to them and one started pyramiding! ) You could also switch pellet brands up to give him more variety.

As other mentioned, consistent water temperature is KEY to a turtle's health and survival. They really can't stand water that fluctuates too much. A heater and thermometer can save your turtles life!

[yiziee]

i can't afford theremometers and yes of course i leave him in water but i like to give him some excersise on land i have had my turtle under a year so he has never tried to hibernate cause i go him in summer . his eyes look alright and i tried carrots he bites a peice and lets it go :/ but at least he's eating something maybe then he'll like it more little by little and he got fed up of salmon to!! hehe he's kinda driving me crazy cause i can't affors the termometers and stuff and i'm worried cause he's not eating like he used to

[yiziee]

mm i'm gona try the jello shots maybe he'll like them .. cross fingers that he will ^^

[megcornell]

If his habitat isn't correct it won't matter what you feed him. You need to make sure he has the correct temperatures. Thermometers are not an expensive item, you'd spend more getting the ingredients for the jello than you would on a thermometer. Make sure the set up is correct first.

[marisa]

You can get aquarium thermometers, even at Walmart, very cheaply. If you buy a cheap one and are afraid it might get broken in the tank, only use it when you want to check the water (leave it in the water for about 10 minutes).

[yiziee]

we don't have any walmart in malta or any cheap shops that sell stuff for pets all the pets shop equipment is pretty expensive :/ but GREAT NEWS i saw ver today before leaving for school eating a peica of cuttle bone