Feeding and Nutrition :: hand feeding? Vitamins?

[kikicool]

Hi there. I've noticed in some posts that people have mentioned feeding their turtle in a seperate container, or hand feeding them. This confused me:

1. I thought turts could only eat in water? If so, how do you hand feed them? (I'd love to do that with mine!)

2. Why would you feed them in a separate container?

Other question... I purchased a multi vitamin: ReptoLife plus by Tetrafauna. ( http://www.tetra-fish.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=430)
It's a powder. If he can only eat in water, how do I feed him this?

Thanks again

[missibsu]

When people feed in a separate container, they use water from their tank and fill it. Most use something small, like a small dishpan. Using water from the tank is easier, beucase it is already had conditioner added and it's the right temp.

As for the vitamin...I don't know much about it, but powered substances like that can be added to the pellets that you feed. Moisten the pellets, roll it in the powder and let it dry a bit.

[jenaero]

I hand feed mine when I'm feeding worms or crickets to make sure they each get the same amount. They'll take the food from my and and bring it into the water to eat.

Some people feed in a separate container because some res are known to poop soon after eating and it can cut down on the mess in the tank. Mine don't so I just feed in the tank.

I've never used a powdered vitamin for my res so I can't really help you on that one.

[CountryGirl68]

The separate contained has to have water so the turtle can eat. Like Jen, my turtle doesn't poop right after eating so I prefer not to stress him out by feeding in a separate container.

[flutterby]

I used to sprinkle calcium powder on the pellets (kept them in a baggie) and on the dried crickets we had at the time.

[marisa]

Depending on the food, I hold it just above the water in front of my RES and he takes it from my fingers (I don't get bit).

If you're feeding your turt well, you shouldn't need the product you mentioned. A powdered calcium supplement (but not the Reptocal that's in that link) would be better. Since you've gotten it already though, moistening your turtle's pellets and coating them with the powder and letting them dry before giving them to your turtle would be one way of him getting some of the powder. Or, you could put some on a food that you're going to handfeed your turtle (food should be moist).

The latter could get messy, though, and this is where a separate feeding container comes in handy. It will help keep the tank water cleaner.

[kikicool]

I read in a RES book that you can roll the sticks around in jelly and then sprinkle vitamins on them. However, I ALSO read that turts have a rough time digesting sugars. So... I think I will try just moistening them. Maybe with cod oil or seomthing. Thanks!

[marisa]

I wouldn't always use cod liver oil to moisten them---it's very high in Vit A, and too much can be unhealthy for your turtle.

[kikicool]

good to know! Thanks.