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Okay, so I understand that pellets are supposed to be the main staple of a turtle's diet. I have a painted turtle and a RES. My RES is eating the pellets just fine and loves them. My painted used to love them, now he only likes crickets, krill, guppies etc. . . He smells the pellet then swims on. I've tried soaking them in Tuna water as well with no luck. I also bought reptomin floating food sticks, then some other food sticks from another company. No luck. He hates healthy stuff for some reason. Also, I've noticed that within the past month or two his activity level has been slowing down. He's about a 4 in shell length. He seems healthy and basks every day without fail under a Mega Ray UV 100 SB bulb at 12 in away. The water temp is 75-78, the water is clear and clean with Bio Media and carbon in a 55 gal tank, but like I said, he seems bored and chill. Maybe this is turning into two topics, but the main point is I would like to feed my turtle healthy things. I do have powdered reptile vitamins without D3, would it be good to feed him powdered crickets to help?

It sounds like he's figured out if he holds off on eating the pellets for long enough, he'll get the good stuff.
If he's otherwise healthy, I think it's time to try the "tough love" approach. Feed him nothing but veggies and pellets for a period of time, and I'm sure he'll be hungry enough to warm up to pellets again.

i agree with bulldog. its hard, but it usually works!

Yep that's a good technique.

Just don't give in at all otherwise you will have to start all over again.

yup, he has to get hungry sometime, and eventually he wont be able to resist!

As others have said do the tough love method. It works really well.

Depending on what form you're giving them (freeze-dried crickets, for example?), I don't consider some of those foods you mentioned to be junk food, although if you want to give krill, I'd make it more of a treat than anything (I don't give krill to my Eastern Painteds).

How long has it been since your painted started refusing pellets? You could try the "tough love" method and see if it works. Do you ever give any fresh veggies or aquatic plants to your turtles?

What brand of multivitamin are you thinking of using?

bgriff99 - It looks like your turtle has waited you out. Offer him a good brand pellet and stick to it. He may wait you out for severl days to a week. I have had a couple pull that on me and I offered them food by hand and they refused it and they did not eat.-- Stick to your guns!!

Tough love worked everyone! Thanks! After about 3-4 days of refusing to give him treats, he finally gave into his hunger and at the same time discovered how good they are. He loves pellets now and I occasionally can offer him treats without the fear that he's only going to eat that. Thank you!

I'm starting the "tough love" tomorrow with veggies for my turtle.