Feeding and Nutrition :: all about poo

[caramelissa]

It's been a few days since I last saw my turtle poo. I'm pretty sure there's no compaction, as anything in the turtle tank is larger than my turtle's head. So I think it's constipation. On the site, it recommends feeding some extra fiber. What sorts of vegetables have lots of fiber?

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Lettuce has lot's of fiber, green leaf/red leaf and romaine lettuce are good and should be added to their diet even when they are not constipated.

[caramelissa]

alright, i'm definitely getting some ASAP. i just found this site last week and i had no idea you can feed a turtle other things than pellets.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Here is all you need to know on what to feed them and what not to feed them, for a healthy turtle you will need a variety of different food's, pellet's are good but it shouldnt be the only thing in your turtle's diet.

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

[steve]

Your turtle is probably eating the poo. What are you feeding and how much?

[Wildcoyote]

I think my turtle is definitely eating his/her poo i just see some little parts of poop on the bottom of the tank.

[caramelissa]

i hope it's eating the poo. before i found this site, she's been living off reptomin sticks. but today, i just got some red leaf lettuce and she ate about half of a leaf.

but now i have a new dilemma: i just passed by the tank today and noticed she was rubbing a back scute off as she's shedding. she then does a 360 and discovers something "new" to eat. before i could stick my hand in there to stop her, she took a chunk off of the shedded scute and didn't spit it out....

[xsavingsaturdayx]

My turtle's have ate a scute of their own shell before. I honestly dont know if it is normal or whatnot. But this was a long time ago, and they are fine now. Plus, I think if it was harmful more people would warn other's about the danger of it (just like gravel) but I have never heard of such a thing.

Red leaf lettuce is good. My picky eater prefer's it over green leaf Remember to add more than just red leaf lettuce, when your done with the head of red leaf lettuce, buy green leaf instead, and throw in some thin strip's of carrot's. Aquatic plant's are good too. Anacharis, hornwort and duckweed is good.

You can give her a nice gutloaded cricket or worm once every two week's too.

[caramelissa]

thanks, i'm definitely relieved i'm not alone in this weird situation. this is the 4th time my turtle has been shedding since i've had her and she's chewed on her scute before, but never eaten it.

[industrial_girl_2000]

The good news is that your turtle is definitely pooing if you are feeding him/her reptomin. He's prolly just eating it. Lettuce helps though!

[caramelissa]

well, if anyone wanted to know, i finally found some poo in the tank!

another question, about how much lettuce can my turtle eat in a feeding? so far, i think she's been eating a piece of lettuce about 4"x3" and she's a 6" turtle.

[grey goose]

I have to keep adjusting the amount of romaine my guys get. They love the stuff, and will eat the whole leaf stems and all. When they get too much they start crapping all over the tank!

[kc]

maybe you just don't see your turtle poo. it's doesn't mean they don't poo. some turtles will just eat their poop after so you see nothing. that's what my turtle do.