Feeding and Nutrition :: Getting his greens....without the tuna juice.

[cprcheetah]

So Zeke my RES was diagnosed with Vit A Deficiency on Monday and has not been eating very good. Well today I tried the soak in Tuna Juice Trick and he is actually tasting the food and if it wasn't in the tuna juice he is spitting it back out. I don't want him to become spoiled so he will only eat food soaked in tuna juice but I don't want him to lose weight from not eating either. He has decided he's not in the mood for romaine this week either NO MATTER what...even soaked in tuna juice. But he's eating tomatoes, cucumber, and a tiny bit of zucchini squash. He's also spitting his pellets back out...doesn't want them either. Is he just being finicky? Any other suggestions? I'm wondering if I need to do some tough love and only offer Romaine and nothing else for a day or so, in order for him to eat it. I want him to eat it regularly but he has to be in the mood.

Forgot to ask also...how long should I leave him in the separate feeding container? I have been trying this for the last week to help with filtration.

[steve]

Have you tried red leaf lettuce? It's a little more expensive but it also has more nutrients.

[scripta_elegans]

I also think the red tips attract the turtles attention! My little guys nipped all the red fringes off the lettuce.

[cprcheetah]

Not yet, but have been thinking about it...unfortunately it may have to wait till Tuesday (payday).

[cprcheetah]

Zeke DEFINATELY likes the color red. We have a cat soft carrier with red on it, and Zeke was trying to get it through the tank, so we moved it before he hurt himself. . Also today was his first taste of Tomatoes....he scarfed that right down. He LOVED it!

[mini]

my Rocky doesn't eat any veggie when i feed him in a seperate container. he only eats the turtle food and dry shrimp there. but if i put the lettuce in his own tank, he eats it quickly. maybe your turtle is not used to the feeding container like mine? I just change water and clean the tank more frequently when i feed Rocky with veggies.

[marisa]

If he's sick and not eating well, I'd be more concerned with keeping him eating to build up strength. Have you tried the aquatic plant anachris? It would give him variety, and most turtles really like to nibble on it, even hatchlings.

[cprcheetah]

I got some red leaf lettuce and again he is spitting it out. I don't think he likes the texture of the lettuce. He is downing cucumber, zucchini squash and tomato like there is no tomorrow....but I really want him to eat some lettuce....Maybe we will tryi smearing his lettuce with brine shrimp....cause we KNOW he LOVES brine shrimp.....He's eating great in his feeding container and it's a LOT less mess in the tank. YEAH!

[marisa]

If you can, try some anachris...