Feeding and Nutrition :: Baby Turtles won't eat

[xiaoali]

They're not eating and it's worrying me. They haven't eaten since I've gotten them. It's been 3 days now. I have 2 and I put them both in a small seperate container with broken up pellet bits during their feeding time. Which is roughly around 6:30. They are healthy looking, clear eyes, shells hard, generally active. When I put them in the seperate container, they spend most of the time swimming against the edge..

[emma]

They are new, they need time to adjust to their new enviroment that they are in. And if you can, you should feed them in the morning. It helps them digest better.

[steve]

I wouldn't use feeding containers just yet. Avoid excessive handling, make sure the water is around 78-80F and give them as much privacy as possible. Also pick up some live foods... earthworms and guppies for starters.

http://www.redearslider.com/entice_eating.html

[xiaoali]

Is it ok that I leave the pellets on their basking rock? If I throw it in the water they just float around and get sucked into the filter.

[marisa]

Is is possible to turn off the filter while you're feeding them?

What kind of feeding container were you trying to use?

[xiaoali]

I just had a white container, bout the width of a DVD and height of a small cup. It's semi trasnparent so I guess they can see out? It's one of those containers that small chinese takeout soup comes in. I'd put both of them in there. The water would only be about the height of their shells. I get the water from their tank. They still haven't eaten and I got them on Saturday. I put both Reptomin Baby & Nutrafin pellets in there, some broken into pieces. They just soak and break apart. That makes it 5 days including Sat. that they haven't eaten now. It was snowing tonight so I didn't go out to get guppies, but I think I will tomm. I'm worried about them exerting themselves and still not being able to catch them though. That and the size of the turtles to the guppy.

I could turn off the filter. The tank is so big though. I almost doubt they'll get to it, but I'll try tomm. They were sleeping and just seem to be chilling now.

[my_manuelita_turtle]

My turtle did the same for the first few days, she just keep swimming against the edge, like if she wanted to get out. Now she doesnt do that anymore, the problem is that now she barely moves (or at least whem im around) and she eats very little...

[xiaoali]

How long before they started eating? Also is trying to feed both of them at the same time a problem? They're always together so I figure they should eat together too. I put 3 food pellets in the tanning dock, one has disappeared. Although it doesn't mean one of them ate it..

It's very nerveracking, I want them to eat.

[my_manuelita_turtle]

I dont know if feeding them at the same time is the best, because they might be competing for food... My turtle hasnt eaten today, but yesterday she had two shrimps, definitely the strong smell of the shrimps makes them start looking for the food in the tank, you can also try tuna or a little piece of fish.

[xiaoali]

Problem is neither is eating, so there's no competition yet. I was worried about it at first, but neither has eaten. Are those shrimp treats any good? I'll guess I can get a bottle of those at the pet shop.

[SpotsMama]

The shrimp treats are only good for occasional treats, the turtles shouldn't eat them every day. Have you seen the section on this site on nuitrition? Why don't you read through it - there's also some guidelines on how to entice a turtle to eat.

Here's the link:

http://www.redearslider.com/index_nutrition.html

It often takes a week before new little turtles settle down enough to start eating. Also, is it possible that your turtles are eating but not when you're around? Sometimes when they are new they are shy about letting you see them eat or bask. Try not to stress them - for instance, don't pick them up unless you have to - and see if they won't settle down in the next day or two.

[xiaoali]

Here's my setup. I've got the UVB light turned off now, considering it's 11:30pm.

I forgot to get a thermometer last I went to the petshop, but I figure with the heater the water should be right.

[SpotsMama]

Setup looks good. but I have a question about the dock. Maybe it's just the camera angle - but it looks like that dock is almost entirely under water. Turtles have to have a place where they can get completely dry every day - top and bottom - to stay healthy.

Another thing on the dock - sometimes turtles squeeze between the dock or the plastic dock frame and the wall of the tank. They can get stuck there and even drown. A way to make the dock safe is to turn the frame upside down, so the horizontal bar is at the top. Them, remove the suckers at the bottom that are now under water - they really aren't necessary. This will make the frame more flexible so if your turtle starts to get stuck he can escape.

By the way, you can put a lot more water in that tank. Just be sure it isn't so full that the turtles can climb up on the dock or filter and escape - they are great climbers. If it makes the turtles nervous to put more water in the tank, you can add it a little at a time - an inch now, then wait a couple of days, then add another inch - so they will get used to it gradually. In the long term they will be much happier in deep water - and the tank will be easier to keep clean too.

[xiaoali]

The turtles are small enough that the dock comfortable would both of them to be on it and more and be completely dry. I got the small sized repto dock but it's still pretty big.

[xiaoali]

I think they ate! Well, I don't know. I left some pellets on their dock. Unfortunately it seems most are just in the water now, which means they had to pull or knock them off. One of them has a chunk bitten out of it. At this rate though, that filter isn't going to cut it and I will need to change the water this weekend.