Feeding and Nutrition :: Pyramiding!

[pajamatree]

So I recently found out that my turtle suffers from pyramiding. I want to do everything I can to make sure she lives a long and healthy life.

So far her diet essentially consists of ReptoMin floating turtle pellets. I've been giving her and Little Foot about 20 pellets twice a day. I'm sitting here thinking I've been underfeeding them and now I find out that I am overfeeding them.

I want to change their diet to prevent any long term damage, but honestly, I'm at lose as to what to do.

They're both one year and three months old. Gnarles, the one with the obvious pyramiding is about 11 to 12 inches while little foot is only about 4 inches. I don't know if that should effect their diet or not, but if you have any idea as to what I should be feeding them now, please help me out.

[Daniel3507]

you should feed however many pellets would fit into the head if it were hollow every other day. also if your not feeding veggies you should go ahead and start offering it.

[pajamatree]

Thank you!

What sort of veggies? I've tried carrots and lettuce but they just spit it out.

[octpusgirl8]

Check out this link: http://www.redearslider.com/plants.html

Lettuce is a good everyday veggie, make sure it's a good quality lettuce like leaf lettuce, rather than iceberg. They might be a little hesitant to try the veggies at first, so it might be a good idea to withhold pellets entirely for a few days until they give the vegetables a try. Some big favorites among my turtles are sweet potato (lightly steamed slices) carrots (strips made with a vegetable peeler) and thin slices of red pepper.

[pajamatree]

Well thank you very much for the info.
I will try it out.

[ivonaa]

Well we have that problem too. They didnt liked the veggies at first, but i mix them with cuple of shrimps and pellets and i put them on the dock. I've try this 3-4 times and it works every time. At first i had to leave the veggies to float in the water, but with this solution they're gone in second

[untsmurf]

I wouldn't recommend feeding the veggies with shrimp because shrimp is really high in protein and you need to be cutting down on that. You can soak your veggies in a bit of tuna juice to entice them to eat. It might also help if you get a vegetable clip. This way you can clip the veggies into the tank and leave them be to eat.

[pajamatree]

They're still refusing the lettuce. I guess tomorrow I'll have a trip to the grocery store I have to make.

[untsmurf]

If they refuse to take it, you can try the tough love road.

[pajamatree]

I know. I just will hate doing it.

[ivonaa]

I now that the shrimps are realy high in proteins, but i put 3-4 of them just for the smell. And i will defintly try with the tuna juice. I bet they won't say no.
And pajamatree you should try it to. There s no way to refuse that smelly tuna veggies

[pajamatree]

Tuna fish! Why haven't I thought of that!?

[TurtleLover_S&B]

Yes,you shouldn't be feeding Gnarles that many he may be big,but that's TOO much!You need to start feeding him vegetables,but you should definately try lettuce & carrots,but tuna juice will definately help,because it'll have a little taste a tuna,but with what they need.That should stop the pyramiding,and if it keep happening,then see a turtle vet.

[Sassamo]

Sassamo has a pretty lumpy shell, due too her old owners feedings.
I tried a piece of romaine lettuce and she ate it within a few minutes. Another good way too get veggies in is this post http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17486

[pajamatree]

Thank you.


I just bought some tuna fish, so hopefully it works.