Feeding and Nutrition :: One of my baby sliders refuses to eat...

[77f2504by4]

Hi all!

i jost got 2 baby red eared sliders. they are both about 1.5 inches and one seems to have finally opened up and has begun to eat. i just fed him 2 grasshoppers, and what a sight! he wont eat pellets, but he loves grasshoppers and krill. the other one wont eat anything, i tried feeding him a grasshopper, but the little guy was not interested. he will also not eat pellets, nor krill. i tried taking him out of the tank to feed seperatly, that did not work, so i tried taking the other one out to feed this one in the tank. did not work. i have had them for about a week and a half, and i'm not positive, but i think only one is eating. what can i do?

[jozzep]

Turts usually need some time to settle in, but 10 days is a pretty long time.
I see it's your first post, so i can just picture these two turtles in a bowl with some water.....Correct?
If your answer is YES, then you need to do LOTS of research and educate yourself on how to properly care for your new pets.
Improper conditions lead to unhealthy turtles.An unhealthy turtle will not eat and possibly perish.

Start here

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

[77f2504by4]

no, i have them in a 20 gallon long tank with the water temp a steady 77-78 degrees and they have a full spectrum UV light above there basking area.

i have tried 3 deifferent types of turtle food. the petco brand, which they tried to eat once when i first gave it to them, but the peices were to big/hard and they didnt eat any. wardley reptile sticks, these get soft really fast, so i'm not sure if they are eating them or they are disolving. reptotreat 100% real shrimp. one of them seems to like this, the other could care less. i am trying T-Rex juvenile pelletes as i type this, we'll see how that goes... the other thing i noticed is that the one that wont eat, seems lazy untill i get anywhere near the tank. then he swims extrememly fast around the bottom of the tank. i dont know whats up with him.

[marisa]

What do you mean by "lazy?" If he's lethargic (inactive) and refuses to eat, he possibly could be ill. Are his eyes open and alert? Does he swim normally?

If you don't see any obvious symptoms of illness, I would continue to take the other one out of the tank while you try to feed him (he may need more time to eat). Have you tried something with a strong smell, like bits of tuna or sardine packed in water? Something to get him eating, then switch to pellets. He may also be more interested in something that moves, like pieces of earthworm.

A full spectrum light doesn't necessarily mean it's a UVB light. Does the light specifically say that it emits UVB rays? A flourescent light doesn't really emit that much heat, so there should also be a heat source next to it above the basking area.

[turtle man]

try earthworms (from your backyard,as long as you dont put chemicals in the dirt, or munure), I had the same problem a few months ago when I bought mine, anyways follow the 3 Ss and one l, Soft Smelly Small and Live. Try hand feeding him with the other turtle out of there , hold the (piece of) worm and put the other half in the water so that he/she smells it. Then try leaving him with the worm without you or the other turtles presence.

If that doesnt work I wouldnt put my bets on his lifspan.