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Ok so here's the exciting thing. I seriously got Varuka my 2.5 inch baby eastern to eat banana while I was holding her and the banana in my hands. And I am just thrilled to pieces about this because it happened twice! At first I thought maybe she was just trying to bite me, but when she kept taking bites of the banana and actually "chewing" it and waiting before taking another bite I realized this wasn't an act of aggression or fear. (She's never been afraid of me before at all anyway.)

Ok and the second great thing about her is this, I have seen with my eyes on two difference occasions, my little Varuka, eat two full sized crickets And I didn't have to do anything to help her. Apparently these little babies aren't as helpless as we'd like to believe. I didn't have to pull the legs off these crickets or anything. I can't make myself do that anyhow. I don't touch bugs, I can't stand the feeling of something touching me. It's a phobia.

So all my worries about my little baby not eating are gone. She was eating all along. I knew crickets couldn't just vanish, I was pretty sure teleporting was impossible.

I just had to share my news with everyone here, my friends that don't speak turtle all think I'm crazy

Great to hear, it's always a relief to see the little ones start to adjust and eat. Hand feeding the babies is always fun while it lasts

I was definitely relieved to see her eat with my own eyes rather than just assume that she was eating. The hand feeding was the best part for sure.

steve wrote:Great to hear, it's always a relief to see the little ones start to adjust and eat. Hand feeding the babies is always fun while it lasts

ah so true, i remember when I crossed that line and didn't know it

ouch, who knew it would pinch that much ahah

I still occasionally hand feed, but it depends on the food and how alert I'm feeling. I just pull back a little after the lunge and hold it so they will meet my finger nail if they make contact.

So far she has had good aim or maybe I'm just holding the food the right way and getting lucky. But she's so tiny I don't think her little mouth would huth so much just now... Give her a few years though and I'm sure I'll change my tune.