Feeding and Nutrition :: Food Puzzles

[tarasee]

Now all my turtle does all day is

1.Swim at the edge of the tank, trying to get out ( great exersise but rather useless)

2. Swim around the tank trying to find food thats not there

3. Stares at me, meaning "I WANT MY FOODS"

This, to me, is a waste of a turtle life.

So I want to make him a food puzzle.

I saw a program on that once, where the zoo keepers gave the animals "food puzzles", where the animal had to think before eating the food...

This is a very bad explanationon, so I will give an example.

A zoo keeper gave a giraffe a tube that contained food. It was sealed, execpt for one little hole.

For the giraffe to get its food it has to :

1. Realize that his head does NOT fit in the hole.

2. That he can get to food by fitting his tounge into the hole and licking it.

3. Also that he had to tip the tube so more food comes near the hole so he can reach it.

Typically the zoo keepers hangs this type of food puzzle on a tree.

Food puzzles are amusing and fun. It has animals thinking and has it fed to. It can get the animal basiclly smart, fed, and amused.

The thing is, food puzzles for turtles don't seem avalible and I don't know how to make one so I'd like designs and ideas.

I would REALLY like peoples help! If you have a idea please tell!

[TheComputerGremlin]

The only food puzzle I've seen is for octopus and squid tanks. It's a lock box that they have to figure out how to unlock to get in.

I can't honestly help you out for turtles, though, because I can't imagine anything that they could learn to open or get into. Their shell is a bit restrictive! Why don't you try putting interesting things in the tank, and moving them around from time to time? That will keep your turtle busy.

[theartbook35]

Maybe something simpler... Like, see if you can get one of those hollow plastic cat balls, and somehow get out the bell if there is one. I'm sure pellets or a few pieces of fruit would fit through the holes ^___^

You could also put a whole blueberry, or a head sized piece of strawberry, inside the whole of a rinsed out snail shell.

I have noticed my turtles like to kick and dig at things... I don't know if that is a trait all turtles share, or just mine. I purposely bunch their rocks together, or put them in this one plant's gravel cup so they will dig them out again.

I also have a few large marbles in the tank, they seem to like pushing them around.

[untsmurf]

You could use one of those shower soap dishes with suction cups and place aquatic plants or food in there, that way they have to pull the dish down to get to it. Another member did this within the last month, but they were doing it to keep the plants safe not as a puzzle. The turtle still ended up eating everything though

[theartbook35]

You could use one of those shower soap dishes with suction cups and place aquatic plants or food in there, that way they have to pull the dish down to get to it. Another member did this within the last month, but they were doing it to keep the plants safe not as a puzzle. The turtle still ended up eating everything though

You talking about Bulldog's plant protector?

The way Frankie would go after the thing was so hilarious.