Feeding and Nutrition :: big terrapin eat more than small ones

[boonyam]

Hi i have four terrapins, two bought 6 months ago, two bought about 1 month ago, hence 6 months terrapins are giant to the small ones, the small ones hardly can get food or very minimum, if i remove the small ones into another place to feed them is kind of troublesome too, is there a way to solve it ?

[marisa]

How much have the first ones grown in six months?

If they're taking food from the smaller ones, then the smaller ones have to be fed separately---more turtles means more work, and maybe you should have thought of this before two more were bought.

If taking the two smaller ones out to feed separately is too inconvenient, you could feed as usual, letting the larger ones eat, then put them in a separate container and add more food for the smaller ones to eat (and give them enough time to finish eating). Or, you could take out the larger ones first, feed the smaller ones, take them out when they've finished and put the larger ones back in the tank to feed.

How big is the tank you have for your four terrapins? If it's not big enough, problems are going to occur. Chances are at some point separate tanks will be needed...

[theartbook35]

How much have the first ones grown in six months?

If they're taking food from the smaller ones, then the smaller ones have to be fed separately---more turtles means more work, and maybe you should have thought of this before two more were bought.

If taking the two smaller ones out to feed separately is too inconvenient, you could feed as usual, letting the larger ones eat, then put them in a separate container and add more food for the smaller ones to eat (and give them enough time to finish eating). Or, you could take out the larger ones first, feed the smaller ones, take them out when they've finished and put the larger ones back in the tank to feed.

How big is the tank you have for your four terrapins? If it's not big enough, problems are going to occur. Chances are at some point separate tanks will be needed...

Sometimes, we get these guys as a gift, and we have no choice. I didn't buy my turtles.

Boonyam: However, I agree with marisa completely. Any pet by itself is a responsibility. But having multiple turtles is a job, they rely on you and will make you need to ante up quite often. Turtles aren't like cats and dogs who like the same thing over and over. Turtles grow tired of things, grow out of things, and will rely on you to provide for them.

This should be interesting for you. You'll have to separate for feeding, but, do you have four different places where each turtle can eat? If not, my decision if it were me, would be to keep the smaller ones together, and give them a chance to learn to eat together without fighting. Then do the same for the bigger turtles. At least, this will get them accustomed to being moved and handled, which ups their socialization and comfort zone by a lot. Once they are willing to put up with just about anything, they kind of get over themselves.

You'll need about 100 gallons for each turtle by the time they reach full size, which is up to a foot long. Your best bet in that sense is a backyard pond they can all share. If you want them to get along, you need to really socialize them with you well, turtles live what they learn.